Disclaimer: I wish I owned just enough of Draco Malfoy to put a finger on him. /le sigh
AN: Again many 3s to people who have added this story to the Story Alerts! You give me the inspiration to push through my hideous writer's block!
History: Hmmm Alexander becoming a Dark Lord eh? That would be telling, you'll just have to wait and see!
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Professor Slughorn had been reinstated as Hogwarts resident Potions Master, a fact which Harry didn't like at all. He was very glad that he wasn't actually back with the Hogwarts students in this new place as a student. He was actually given leave to explore the grounds while all the actual students were still doing getting their schedules plotted out. He had decided lingering around the appointed Potions Cabin had been pointless so he strode towards the mansion in the distance.
Oddly enough Harry found he had little interest in checking out the school itself, but preferred to go check out the Squib aspect. He noticed there were several none-student none-teacher people lingering about. He has asked one of persons in question and found them to be a squib. Why the school housed Squibs he wasn't certain, but he wanted to find out. At Hogwarts Filch had been the only Squib, here he had already lost count of squibs.
He jumped up onto the grey porch with a loud thud. Maybe he should put off meddling until later. It was only the official second day of school and he could just play in the Quidditch pitch. Deciding Quidditch sounded like something more worth his time then meddling he entered the foyer of the mansion.
As rowdy as the American students had been yesterday in the Dining Hall yesterday, he didn't understand how they could behave. If he had to live in this monstrously of a house covered in that hideous beige wallpaper and the bleach white planning, he would die. That or whip out his wand and go mad with painting charms. Trying to block out the poor décor he turned to his right pausing in front of the large wooden door blocking him from the magical part of the mansion.
He was staring at the doorknob reconsidering his meddling habits when he noticed the walls. The wallpaper had shifted, just slightly. He took a moment to really look at the vines and tiny flowers lacing the walls and saw them shift again. It was a small shift, but the longer he stared the more he saw. Seconds ticked by as the shifting increased. He took a deep breath focusing his attention willing his mind to open up to the magic laid before it. The wall became a massive tangle the wallpaper coming to life. The flowers enlarged to bright twinkling flower fairies. They darted back and forth waving their vine covered staves. He could not see what they were doing exactly, but the little floral girls would pause for a moment bow before dart off their leafy wings fluttering in excitement.
"They are ward guardians." Someone said. Harry turned to the voice for a moment taking notice of the Clan Head of Nocturnus. Finding him no threat he turned back to the wall. The twitting fairies were gone and the dull vines and flowers unmoving on the wall once more.
"What's a ward guardian?" Harry finally turned his full attention to Alexander. He fully expected the wallpaper to come alive again as he watched it over the Clan head's shoulder.
"Well- the wards here are always under barrage. We house a lot of squibs and non-magical persons here. The wards are always working to see what those who can and cannot see should see. Without the ward guardians the wards would fall in a week at most. Do you not have them at your school?" The teen said tilting his head. Harry could have sworn he saw that bright amethyst twinkle in his eyes again, but shrugged it off. It really would do no good to remember the dead, hold them to his heart yes, but he didn't want them to haunt him.
"Not really, the wards have only fallen once when I was at Hogwarts in seven years."
"The Battle of Hogwarts… I heard about that. Well perhaps you will employ ward guardians now. I hear the best lessons are the ones that leave scars." Again Harry turned his thought away from grimmer paths and focused on Alexander. The teen was staring at him waiting for a response.
"Fancy a round of Quidditch?"
This seemed to brighten the brunette's spirits. He grinned fiercely, "I am my Clan's Seeker! I have a personal Snitch we could play with if you fancy. I have heard you are a Seeker yourself."
Harry would have to ask how they had a decent Quidditch season with only three teams. He stood poised on his broom high above the pitch thinking. He really didn't understand how he could be looking at the scene below him without actually seeing it. Was it just that he wasn't actually taking in the lush grass of the pitch? That even if he was glancing up at Alexander didn't really appreciate the Windslicer he was riding.
Scratch that, he was admiring the Windslicer, he felt his concentration to find the snitch fading as he thought of the Windslicer. The broom was a fine ebony shade and carved wonderfully. He knew the broom had been laced with the best charms to increase speed and cut through the wind resistance. It truly was an amazing broom, Harry would have to buy one to replace his old Firebolt. He hadn't worried about a new broom since he had lost his more than a year ago. Had he really been gone from the Quidditch pitch so long?
Alexander shot forward like a rocket breaking Harry from his awe. He had forgotten to look for the Snitch. He was definitely out of practice. He tipped his broom down after Alexander seeing the golden blur he was chasing. He knew with his skill he could get the snitch, it was just a matter of beating Alexander on that damned Windslicer. He knew he was on a broom, but the free fall feeling was so intoxicating. He tried not to think about how odd it was to see Alexander. If he started thinking again there was no way he would be able to get the snitch.
"Too slow Potter!" Alexander shouted behind him turning his head to see him. Harry glared at the sinister looking brunette. Luck was on his side though, when his opponent turned to look at him the snitch shot back up into the air past him. "Blast!" He ignored the frustration in Alexander's voice and ordered his broom up.
He gave a cry of delight as the feeling of free fall gave way to a harsh pull. He flew up feeling as though he would slip off his broom and plummet to the earth below. Flying was just too addicting, he mused. He reached out for the flickering golden speck. He just needed it to stay in a straight path for a few more seconds. "Almost there." He muttered to himself vaguely aware of the shouting behind him.
His fingers wrapped around the snitch the little enchanted ball squirming in annoyance. "I win!" He cried out steadying his broom. Alexander was several feet below him spinning lazy circles in the air. He was looking up at Harry a grin plastered on his face.
"Was there ever a doubt you would win?" Alexander laughed floating up to Harry. Harry clutched at the school issue Nimbus 2001 that he was riding with affection. He felt oddly as though he were facing Malfoy when he looked at Alexander, except Alexander was humble.
"No, probably not, I am Harry Potter after all." He said stiffly. He didn't like how empty and sarcastic his voice sounded. He saw the flash of irritation cross Alexander face and he regretted how he had spoken.
The teen didn't even respond to Harry holding his hand out for the snitch. His cheek burned from his embarrassment, he had come off rather arrogant. Silently he handed the snitch over contemplating what to say but finding no words.
"You know, here in America they know what you have done." Alexander's hand was firmly wrapped about the snitch as he stared intently. Their brooms were touching tip to tip but his voice continued to sound as though he were speaking from across the pitch. "But we can't relate. We were never under your Dark Lord's sway. We offer you respect in light of what you have done not who you are. So don't go tooting your horn around here like someone will care."
Mutely he nodded still unable to form a coherent word in response. He wanted to stop Alexander from leaving as the boy floated away but he couldn't. He needed to apologize for his behavior, but he couldn't do that either. Not that he didn't want to, but he was frozen to the spot with humiliation. What would Remus say had he heard him? Even worse, he knew James and Sirius would have applauded him for being a rightful git. To him Peter didn't even count as a Marauder.
"Harry!" Alexander cried out. He broke from his embarrassment looking down at the Clan Head. A bludger was shooting up directly towards him. With a yelp he tilted his broom just enough to avoid the hell bent ball. His mind wiped clean as fear coursed through him. He wasn't wearing the proper padding to put up with a bludger attacks. He shot his broom down to the ground watching the massive green of the pitch rising to meet him. He could hear the bludger whizzing behind him.
"I got your back." Someone shouted. Halting his dive to the ground he heard the large famamliar crack of the bludger being swatted away. He spun around the jerk of his broom nearly tossing off. A blur shot by him only pausing for a moment. It was a girl with long brunette hair trailing behind her in a massive braid. She gave him a wicked smile her chocolate eyes full of joy.
Harry felt his stomach drop out as she watched the girl dash off, her bat in hand, after the bludger. "She's got fangs!" He cried out.
"Cap'in we heard you were on the pitch. We figured we'd come out an' play!" A boy shouted whizzing by a quaffle under his arm.
"You're skipping class?" Harry spun his broom up determined to get into the thicket of the practice. There was a large teen stationed at the goal posts. He was clean shaved with a proud face but he reminded Harry of Hagrid.
"No way, I wouldn't risk Boss ripping me a new asshole. It's our scheduled practice time, but it's only the second day! Boss is starting early!" The large teen by howled with laughter. The boy with the quaffle tried to score while the Keeper was distracted talking to Harry. He was not lucky though as the Keeper reached around taking the quaffle with one hand and hurling it back into the fray.
"Look out." The fanged girl snapped slamming her bat into another bludger aiming for Harry.
"This is utter chaos." He whispered looking at the chasers tossing the ball between each other. They were all a blur of blue jeans as they maneuvered in the air. A bludger barely missed the Chaser with spiky black hair and rather white skin. The short boy cropped brown hair and rich tan skin stole the quaffle in the middle of a throw from a girl with hawkish features.
"I know! I love it!" A boy howled. He had electric blue eyes and blonde hair. His face was wild and expressive swing his bat around his head. "I know this isn't the Wild Hunt, but damn just as fun."
"The Wild Hunt?" Harry frowned. The boy couldn't be talking about that Wild Hunt. There was no way.
"Oh yeah. My mom participates in it every other month. Last time they took down a Hippogriff! I wasn't allowed to go that one, mortals aren't allowed to go to the ones where the hunt fights back too much." He said in a hushed ton as though Harry could relate. The boy flashed Harry another grin his face showed just a hint of insanity. He stirred his broom away from Harry looking for the nearest bludger.
Alexander floated up near Harry. "Sorry about that, We're a spirited team. I should have probably introduced you to the sub-team first, they aren't as wild." The snitch was still clutched firmly in his hand as he spoke. Harry wasn't quite sure what to say, but he was most definitely shell shocked.
He had read the pamphlet on General Smithson's School of Magic last night at Hermione's urging. He knew the school accepted anyone who applied if they met the grading requirements. There had been small notes of the well rounded population of students. "Is there a single human on your team?" He whispered.
"Yes and no. I rank as human but my mother is a vampire. Ernie, the Keeper is a quarter giant. Alice and Cody my Beaters are three quarters vampire and half fae. Craig the chaser is part giant too, not sure how much. Simon is part brownie I think a quarter maybe less, he's too tall to have thick blood for it. Melissa is half harpy, best chaser on my team." Alexander said proudly. His eyes were warm and loving as he looked over his team.
Harry let his broom take him down. Feeling his feet planted firmly on the floor moments later he dismounted. He had to get away from here. This people were insane, especially that Cody kid. He was scared of doing some grievous insult that could get him killed. He hadn't done all the proper studying for everyone's background. He really didn't want to risk insulting Cody enough to get on his mother's hunt list. Could Alice turn him into a vampire if she bit him and how did she stay out in the sun? Everyone else was relatively safe, except Melissa. Harpies worried him too.
"You alright Harry?" Alexander said swaying down from above on his broom. The chaos was still raining above them as the team practice. He could see the concern on Alexander face with a hint of resentment.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just have to go hit the books." He answered half-heartily. Perhaps he would meddle after all, trying to be normal was just too hard.
"I see," Alexander stated sourly. He was clearly angry at Harry's sudden departure. "Well I see my lady coming on to the pitch." He waved his arm sharply. "Lizzy dear could you escort Mister Potter to the library? Seems he has some studying to do."
Harry turned to the metamorphmagus. The girl was sporting a thick braid of rainbow locks her eyes glowing neon green. "Hello." He said politely holding out his hand. The girl waved meekly turning her odd eyes to her boyfriend.
"Alexander I came to watch you play."
"Zip it dear, just to take Harry to the Library, if he forms a team for the semester I wouldn't want him to see our strategy anyway." Harry watched the teen dismount his broom that was eye level with him. The broom swayed to the ground sadly at the loss of its rider. Giving the metamorphmagus a tight hug and a chaste kiss Alexander pushed her back towards the building Harry following hesitantly.
"Don't worry Harry, she doesn't bite unless I ask her to." He grinned his mirth stopping just before his eyes. He was still mad at Harry, but playing the part of a good host. He automatically nodded and walked with at a more sure pace.
"So you're name is Lizzy?" Harry questioned with a whisper. The girl's braid was completely purple now as she slipped between the aisles of books. The library looked as dull as the rest of the house did, though not nearly as much as the foyer. The library took up the whole third floor which Harry was sure would excite Hermione.
"Nope," The witch said shortly.
"Then what is it?" He said hoping the annoyance had not seeped into his voice.
"Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth what?"
"Sanderson. Why do you care?" She asked acidly taking a book from the shelf. It was a paper back with a woman swooning in a man's arm on the cover. Noticing her pick he looked up at the shelves and found they were nothing like Hogwarts. Were they in the wrong section or did the school really only hold muggle romance novels.
"Just would like to know who I am talking to. Where the magical tomes?" She looked up at him irritation plain on her face. She dropped the book she was holding back on the shelf not exactly where she had grabbed it. He wondered if this was the kind of person Hermione often cursed about.
"Oh, yeah, the books are this way." She said her voice lacking the confidence it had a moment ago. "What subject are you looking for?" Together they traveled deeper into the library. The careless aisle gave way to shelves with lids on them. The books stopped being paper backs, hard leather taking their place.
"Rules and manners in regards to vampires, fae, and harpies." He saw the familiar spine of The Monster Book of Monsters. The book was in its own case as it jumped violently towards Harry. The case clinked against assault but did not break. Harry smirked back in defiance.
"Rather specific there. Need one for giants and brownies too or do you not care about that part of the Quidditch team?" She said the confidence and anger in her voice back. Harry gave one sharp glare at the living book trying to bite him through the cases before turning back to her.
"Nonsense, I'm not afraid of getting killed if I accidently insult them." He saw her confused stare. Perhaps they had adjusted to the people because they were taught with them, but Harry had not. He had already had enough blunders due to lack of education when he first entered the Wizarding world. He wasn't going to get killed in a Wild Hunt after killing Voldemort just because he accidently insulted someone without realizing it. "I'd rather not find my head on a platter from a Wild Hunt because I didn't know the proper etiquette in regards to fae culture."
Her eye widen in shock. Turning away from him she began her march through the library again. "So you aren't prejudice again the halfings?" He strained to hear her voice as she slipped away from him into a different isle. The books in this one seemed to glow with an unearthly shade. She popped the cover on the second shelf open recklessly pulling a large black tome that had a violent purple glow to it.
He took a step back as the other books in the compartment came to life shivering. They began to slowly bump and hop towards the open door. Before a rather sickly green book could escape the lid was slammed back in place by the metamorphmagus a grimace on her face. "Sorry to assume," She said turning a smile to him, "but this book should cover all the basic etiquette on any student who has the power to behead you for personal insult to their race.
"You'll want to read the chapters on Fae first. Harpies, Vampires, Selkie, and Veela are also important in that order. You're less likely to get eaten by a Veela then a Fae." She snickered for a moment handing the tome to Harry. "It's actually a very good read. Oh don't forget the Dragon chapter too, there is a research group in the forest nearby studying a new mutation you might get to see them."
Harry wanted to throw the book to the floor, find the nearest broom, and fly back to England. It was only the second day and he was already being forced to study and definitely mention the issue to Hermione. The Hogwarts students would have to know if they didn't already. He was pretty sure very few of them were use to being in such a half-breed rich atmosphere.
"I'll leave you to the books, I need to get to my charms class since my independent study block is almost over. Have fun!" Lizzy said her hair a deep orange now, his eyes staring back at him from her face. What was it that people loved about his eyes?
