"That was ridiculously easy," Harry said once Draco had left. He leaned forward and gingerly lifted the missive from Voldemort, fingering it as he continued to speak. "I now have a pawn in the midst of the monster's den, and he will provide me with invaluable information about those who have pledged themselves to the Dark Lord."
"Well played, young Master," Sebastian murmured, a small smile on his face. "While it is an excellent beginning, there is still much to be done to win your revenge."
"Yes. I'll have my first pawn try and win me more pieces for the game. Without a full set, I'm helpless." Harry slid a finger underneath the wax seal on the envelope, breaking it loose and pulling the single page of parchment free. His eyes scanned it as he listened absently to Sebastian's response.
"Agreed. Now, young Master, we need to discuss what you expect of me during the coming school year." Harry's eyes lifted to his butler's, fury making them spark green fire. Silently, he handed the note to Sebastian and waited as the demon read it.
Harry Potter,
My sources tell me that you are no longer living under the protections of your muggle relatives. That is good. I have a proposition for you. Come to me and surrender yourself. If you do this, you may have a place at my side, as one of my most prized Death Eaters. I eagerly await your response.
Lord Voldemort.
Sebastian lowered the parchment and looked into his master's eyes for a moment before he spoke. "You will need protection at your school. I do believe that this Dark Lord will try to gain your favor there, and if he fails, will summarily try to eliminate you. If you wish me to attend with you, we will have to come up with a way to get me into the school." Harry looked at the demon for a moment, before a smile brightened his face.
"Can you become any kind of animal?" the raven asked softly, mischief in his eyes. Frowning slightly, Sebastian inclined his head.
"Yes, sir, I can. I am able to turn myself into a large raven. Why do you ask?"
"I am permitted to take an animal to school. The selection is quite limited but I'm sure that, because of who I am, the professors will overlook my choice of you to keep me happy." The boy smirked, and Sebastian chuckled to himself.
"Very well, young Lord. I will do as you wish."
The hustle and bustle of the train platform always irritated Harry. He never liked being jostled and touched by the crowds, but, until now, he'd had no choice but to tolerate it. This year, he had Sebastian to run interference. The butler dodged and weaved, moving quickly to intercept those intent on mauling their Savior. Some of the more persistent ones ended up with broken fingers for their efforts, and soon enough the rumors got around that Harry Potter's butler wasn't allowing any sort of physical contact with his charge. Escorting the young Lord Potter onto the train, the butler stalked through the cars until he'd found a secluded empty compartment. He opened the door and bowed, his hand to his chest, as he waited for his master to enter first. He quickly followed and lowered all of the shades on the windows, ensuring their total privacy.
"Thank you, Sebastian," Harry said softly, smiling at his butler. "You've done a wonderful job in keeping the ravening crowds at bay. Now, if you will, please transform. I have requested a re-sort from the headmaster, and he has reluctantly agreed. I expect to be sorted into Slytherin, where the students from third year and up get their own rooms. I will, unfortunately, have a roommate, but I will ensure that it is my pawn."
"As you wish, young Master," the butler murmured, smiling slightly at the praise. Harry watched as his servant twisted and shivered, slowly shrinking until he was the size of a very large housecat. His feathers were a glossy black, with gleaming rainbow hues of the deepest blues around his neck. His eyes sparkled with wicked intelligence, and his large black beak curved slightly at the end. Fluttering his wings, he floated over to the boy on the bench, perching on the child's shoulder. Harry reached a tentative finger up to stroke the feathers on the breast of the bird, and Sebastian's beak dipped to nip gently at the questing fingers.
"You're a very lovely raven, Sebastian," Harry whispered, blushing slightly. The raven nuzzled his beak against Harry's cheek, making the boy blush harder. Any further talk was stalled when the compartment door opened and in walked Draco Malfoy, his two goons shadowing him. Behind them were Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott, and Blaise Zabini. Draco's eyes widened slightly in surprise, and after a brief hesitation he sat next to Harry, Crabbe and Goyle going to stand outside the compartment to guard. The surprise on the other Slytherins' faces was less concealed, Pansy gaping openly at his appearance.
After he'd learned that he was, indeed, a very wealthy wizard, Harry took it upon himself, with the help of the demon, to purchase a new wardrobe. He'd shopped at the most exclusive wizardwear shops in London and Paris, and was now dressed in black silk trousers, a white dress shirt with an emerald green cravat, and a black silk overcoat under his school robes. The cravat was a necessity, to hide the contract mark on the side of his neck. All in all, he cut a dashing figure sitting there with his raven.
"P-Potter! What are you doing here, in the heart of Slytherin country?" Pansy gasped. Harry flinched at the volume and tone of her voice, and opened his mouth to answer when Draco spoke, silencing any other protests.
"He is here because I invited him. He and I came to an accord over the holidays, and I want you to treat him with the respect he deserves as Lord Potter."
Harry made his way to the Gryffindor table and sat down, keeping his eyes on the table in front of him. A miniscule part of him felt a little guilt for allowing Ginny to die in the Chamber, but mainly, he just didn't want everyone to see his absolute loathing for them all. Sebastian fluffed his wings, making himself look large and intimidating and forestalling any approaches from the student body. The chatter was loud and raucous, with many of the students discussing the rampant stories of Harry Potter's defection to the Dark. Several of them pointed to the raven, a sure sign in their minds of Harry's magical leanings. The Potter heir heaved a sigh, ducking his head further to avoid all the stares, pointing, and whispering. Ron and Hermione came up and sat on either side of him, glaring at everyone on behalf of their friend.
"What are you two doing here?" the brunet asked harshly, scowling first at Ron, then at Hermione.
"We're your friends, Harry," Hermione said, hurt in her voice. "We're here to support you."
"Really," Harry retorted scathingly. "Weren't you the ones to begin those rumors about me being the Heir of Slytherin in the first place? And Ron, didn't you accuse me of killing your sister?" When shocked blue eyes widened, Harry smirked. "I read the article in the Daily Prophet about her death, and what had happened in the Chamber of Secrets. I read, with my own two eyes, your statements that you believed that I had killed your sister to save my own arse." Harry had to fight back a smile because, technically, it was true. He was saved from Ron's reply when the first years were led into the Great Hall to begin their sorting. Harry sat back, his fingers going to Sebastian's feathered breast to stroke gently. The raven nipped at Harry's ear and groomed his ebon locks, making the boy smile.
As the sorting was winding down, Dumbledore stood and stepped up to the podium. When the last student sorted had taken her place in Ravenclaw, the headmaster cleared his throat and began his announcements. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. To those new to these walls, please take advantage of the older students, as they will have learned all the secrets of the castle. The Forbidden Forest is just that: forbidden. Do not venture into those woods as they are inhabited by creatures that would see you as a tasty meal. Filch has put up a new list of banned products. Please memorize it so that I do not have to hear him complain about this prank or that. No spell casting in the halls, and no fighting, either. We all must stand together to fight against the evil that is making its way here. Now, for our final bit of business before we feast, will Harry Potter please come up here to be re-sorted?" All eyes zeroed in on the brunet as he stood and carefully made his way to the stool, where he sat and waited for the sorting hat.
Mr. Potter. I did not expect you to come back to me.
Yes, well, needs must.
Indeed. I cannot get a read on you this time, child. Most unusual. That much subterfuge tells me that you have changed greatly since our last chat. This time, there is no other choice than SLYTHERIN!
The wall of shocked astonishment nearly made Harry laugh as he stood from the stool, placing the hat back on the seat. Calmly, he waited for professor Snape to change the patch on his robes before making his way to the Slytherin table. No one wanted to make space for the boy until Draco had Crabbe and Goyle start shoving students down the bench. When space next to the blond was cleared, Harry sat, throwing a brief smile of gratitude at Malfoy.
"Welcome to Slytherin, Potter. We have much to talk about."
"Indeed," was Harry's taciturn reply.
"Malfoy," Harry called out as the students reached the common room, "may I have a word?"
"Certainly, Potter." The blond led the brunet to a quiet little corner, and each boy took a seat opposite the other. They were silent for a moment before Harry spoke.
"Would it be possible for you to be my roommate?" Silver eyes widened for a fraction of a moment before the blond replied.
"Of course, Potter. I assume you wish to keep some things just between the two of us?"
"It would be best," Harry answered, his eyes drifting closed for a moment as he slumped down into the chair, tired. Before he could nod off, there was a commotion near the fire, and every Slytherin had gathered around their Head of House for the welcoming address. Harry quickly stood and made his way forward, finding a small ottoman to sit on. Snape nodded briefly to the boy before he began.
"Welcome to Slytherin House. I am your Head, Professor Severus Snape. I am also your Potions instructor. Within these walls you will find true friends and political allies. I expect you to always carry yourselves with pride and dignity. Outside these walls lay your enemies. You will be reviled and spit upon. You will be cursed and cursed at. Through it all, I expect you to behave as the noble purebloods and Slytherins you are. Your greatest strength is your unity. Do not let it falter, no matter what.
"If you are in need of help, see your prefects or your Head Boy. If it is of a nature that they cannot assist, come and see me. My door is always open to you, no matter the hour. We are a family here, and we take care of our own. Now, get settled into your dorms and rooms, and get to know your housemates. They will be with you for the next several years." Nodding briefly again at Harry, Severus took his leave, and Draco took Harry's arm to lead him to the individual rooms. The blond scanned the doorplates as he passed, until he came to one that listed his name, with Blaise Zabini beneath it. Turning, he saw that Harry was across the hall, with Theo as his roommate.
Just then, both Theo and Blaise were entering the hall, and the four gathered outside the two rooms to chat for a moment.
"Hey, Blaise? Would you mind trading with Potter?" The dark-skinned boy's eyebrows skated his hairline as he looked at his best friend.
"If you wish," the Italian answered softly. Theo looked from Harry to Draco, thoughts whirling in his head as he made and discarded connections. Finally, he voiced his thoughts.
"You've become allies, haven't you?" Harry's emerald eyes met the other boy's, and he nodded. Theo then turned to Draco in surprise. "You've managed to speak to him about our situations?" At a nod, Theo turned to Harry again. "You will have the support and assistance of myself and Blaise. Our parents expect us to devote our lives to that madman, but Draco is our leader, and we will go where he does."
"That is good news," Harry murmured, looking at both boys speculatively. "I am glad to hear that you're willing to help me. I will let you know later in the month how you will best serve me. Now, I would like to go to bed. It's been a long, exhausting day." Nodding, Draco tapped the doorplate for his room, changing Blaise's name to Harry's, while Blaise did the same for Theo's room. Draco opened the door and invited the brunet in, stepping back so that he could get a look at their shared living space.
The double beds were dressed in emerald green linens, with a thick silver and black comforter resting atop them. There were dark walnut desks on either side of the room, against opposite walls, with comfortable padded desk chairs. Both boys' trunks sat at the foot of their beds, and the black walnut wardrobes against the wall at the foot of the beds finished the room in grand style. Sebastian flew to Harry's bed and perched, looking to his master for a moment before he changed. Draco's eyes widened comically on the butler that now stood beside Harry's bed.
"You brought your butler?" he asked incredulously. Harry nodded, smiling.
"The letter from Voldemort gave me the impression that he would stop at nothing to try and recruit me, and that if he doesn't, he'll kill me." Harry looked at his butler, pride in his eyes. "Sebastian is here for my protection. Not only is he my butler, but he's my guardian and bodyguard." Draco stared at the tall, thin man for a long time, mouth hanging open.
"Young Master, may I prepare you for bed?"