Disclaimer: If you haven't gotten the idea yet that I don't own Harry Potter then I feel very sad for you.
I have to profusely thank all of you who have reviewed. I'm always glad to see that what I write is being read. There was one question that was asked that the reviewer didn't leave an email address and it wasn't signed so here's the answer. Yes, eventually I'm sure there will be pairings. However, I don't know what those pairings will or should be yet, except for Alexander and Doriel. If there are any you would like to see then tell me and I will consider it. Once again, if you have any questions, comments, concerns and you'd like a response either leave a signed review so I can respond directly or leave your email address, I know there's a spot for it when you fill out the review form. Thank you so much for your support and I look forward to hearing what you think of this chapter.
Chapter 3
It only took Harry a week to talk everyone in Slytherin into calling him Aurel and by that time it was announced that there were to be flying lessons with the Gryffindors. Harry discovered that although Snape was his head of house he still harbored some kind of grudge against him. He didn't openly show it but there was something in the way he would periodically eye him. One afternoon he decided to find out what was going on and waited after potions for everyone to leave.
"What is it Mr. Potter?" Snape questioned, seeing the black haired boy stay behind.
"I have a question Professor." He approached his desk, "Why do you keep looking at me like that? Is there something I have done to make you angry or upset with me? I assure you that if I have it was completely unintentional."
He looked up at him, his eyes narrowed, "That is none of your business." He growled.
Harry scowled, turning on his heels and storming out, hands clenched into fists. Happily the school day was over and he had time to write his father. He moved to the common room, pulling out parchment and quill, and set about writing a letter.
Father,
I miss you so much. I was sorted into Slytherin! The Headmaster, Dumbledore, looked at me oddly when I was sorted, I don't think he wanted me in the house of snakes. Severus Snape, the man I met in the apothecary, he's my head of house. He keeps looking at me, like he doesn't like me or is angry with me. I don't know what I did to make him hate me and when I asked he yelled at me. It makes me angry, not to know what I've done wrong. He was nice to me in the store when we met but now it's like he's totally different. I wish you were here to help me. We have flying lessons with the Gryffindors tomorrow. The red head, Weasley, who was in the book store, he's in Gryffindor and Draco, the boy I met in the robe shop, is in Slytherin with me. I'll keep you updated on how things are going.
Love,
Aurel
He reread the letter twice before sealing it and taking it to the owlery to be mailed before heading to dinner in the Great Hall. The rest of the evening passed uneventfully, it wasn't until the next morning when post was being delivered that Harry saw his father's owl land in front of Snape. He watched intently, eating his breakfast, as Snape took the letter and opened it. Not long after that another owl landed in front of Harry. The letter had his father's seal and he opened it.
Aurel,
I miss you as well. The halls feel so empty without your laugh. I have written to Severus regarding his behavior after I asked him to watch out for you. Hopefully he will either explain to you the reasoning behind it or will cease his negative attitude towards you. Keep up in your studies; I expect good marks from you this year. Congratulations on getting into Slytherin, that was my house when I went to Hogwarts. I trust that you are making friends; it will do you good to meet others. I spoke to Alexander after I got your letter, he is ashamed of Severus and I have a feeling that he will take it into his own hands should the situation not be remedied. He told me to tell you that he looks forward to seeing you this Yule and has something special for you. Do not let Dumbledore manipulate you, trust me, he will try. When he discovered that I was going to be taken under Alexander's wing when I reached my majority he tried his hardest to sway me into his way of thinking so that he could use what I would become. I want you to make your own observations and reach your own conclusions about people and events. I look forward to hearing about your flying lessons, keep me updated.
With all my love,
Your Father, Doriel
"Aurel, come on, we have flying lessons." Draco said, tapping him on the shoulder, "It's time to go."
Aurel tucked the letter away, taking a final bite of breakfast and picking up his bag, "Sorry, I was distracted." He smiled, "My father wrote me." The two of them headed for the door.
Draco smiled, "Blaise is waiting for us outside."
He nodded and the two boys silently made their way outside to find their other companion. Blaise was right through the doors, leaning against an archway to wait. Upon seeing them he kicked off the wall and walked beside them, stretching slightly.
"What took you so long?" He questioned, adjusting his bag.
"I got a letter from my father so I wanted to read it." Harry replied, "This should be fun, shouldn't it?" He questioned, putting his bag down and moving towards the brooms that were lined up.
Draco sneered at the brooms, "Old, aren't they?" He questioned as they took position next to three that looked relatively stable.
"They look like something I've seen in Alexander's closet from when he was little." He had already explained to the two that Alexander was Doriel's sire.
They burst into laughter right as the Gryffindors and the rest of the Slytherins came out. Weasley glared at them, "What are you laughing at?" He growled, standing across from them.
Their laughter stopped abruptly. Draco's face morphed into a superior sneer, "Maybe we were laughing at you Weasley." He jerked out his wand, "Amazing, your family could actually afford a wand." He looked at it closer, "Never mind, looks like it was handed down."
"Why you…" He never got to finish as Madam Hooch, their instructor, strode towards them.
"Mr. Weasley, put your wand away, you won't be needing it." She walked down the aisle between the two rows of brooms she had set out, "Today you will be learning how to fly properly. Now, I want all of you to follow my instructions to the letter." She looked at each of them in turn, "Now, put your hand over your broom and command it into your hand by saying 'up'." She continued to move down the line, watching them as they followed her instructions.
"Up." Harry commanded and the broom shot into his hand.
He smirked, watching Weasley, it seemed as though he was having a bit of trouble. When the broom snapped up and hit him in the face Harry was hardly able to stifle his laughter and a quick glance down the Slytherin line told him that they were as well. Once everyone had finally managed to get their brooms she continued her instructions, correcting Weasley's hold on his broom.
"When I blow my whistle you will kick up off the ground and hover in the air for a few seconds then come down." Before the whistle even got to her lips one Neville Longbottom kicked off and tottered up into the air, "Mr. Longbottom you get down here right now!" No matter how much he may have desired to do just that he went higher, finally falling off the climbing broom and falling to the ground. She quickly rushed over to him, helping him up, "Looks like a broken wrist." She said sympathetically, "Let's get you to the hospital wing." She looked back over her shoulder, "And if I catch any of you off the ground you'll regret it."
Once she was gone Harry's eye caught something glinting on the ground near where Longbottom had fallen. He moved over and picked it up, "What's this? A Rmemberall? A little hard to be reminded of something you've forgotten if you can never remember what it is." He tossed the little ball in the air and caught it.
"Give it here Potter!" Weasley exclaimed, moving towards him.
He sneered, mounting his broom, "Hey Draco, want to play a little catch?" He questioned, kicking off the ground easily.
Draco smirked and was soon airborne, "Would love to."
Harry tossed it to the blonde and soon they were playing keep away from the now wobbly flying Weasley. Easily they moved, throwing the ball back and forth, being sure keep it just out of reach of the red head.
"Aurel! Draco! Get down here! I think someone's coming!" Blaise hissed, was playing look out for the two boys.
Quickly they dived, continuing to toss the Rememberall as they did so; pulling up in time to land just as Snape came striding out. Weasley wasn't so lucky, landing far less gracefully and after Snape was already out on the field.
"Fifty points from Gryffindor!" Snape growled, "And your head of house will hear about your little stunt." He looked at the two Slytherins, "You two will come with me." He turned on his heel, moving back to the building.
Draco and Harry exchanged half worried looks. As they went to follow Snape Harry tossed the Rememberall at Ron, "Catch." He smirked over his shoulder before looking ahead again.
The clear ball hit the stunned Weasley in the middle of the head before falling to the ground. Harry and Draco followed their head of house down three corridors to the Defense Against Dark Arts room. He opened the door and looked inside, catching Professor Quirrell's eye.
"Professor Quirrell, I need to borrow Flint." He stated, leaving no room for argument. Marcus Flint got to his feet and moved to the door, stepping outside with them, "I've found you a pair of chasers to replace those incompetent ones you've been complaining about for the past year."
Flint smirked, looking at the two boys, "We'll see what the pair of you can do today after class." He stated, "Let's hope you don't disappoint." He walked back into class, taking his seat.
"Don't make me regret this." He stated, looking back and forth between them, "I will see you both in potions this afternoon." He turned and walked off, heading back to whatever it was he was doing before he was interrupted.
They looked at each other, smiles slowly appearing on their faces, "Wicked."
The pair rushed off to class, lucky that Blaise had picked up their bags before heading to class himself. The rest of the day seemed to pass far too slowly for their liking; both were excited about their meeting with Flint that afternoon. Potions that afternoon went smoothly, Snape no longer giving him cruel looks. Weasley was there, he didn't look very happy, constantly shooting murderous glances over at the two boys who had humiliated him. Finally it was time. After depositing their bags in their room they made their way towards the Quidditch Pitch where they were to meet Flint. The sixth year Slytherin was already waiting for them, a box at his feet, and two of the school's brooms beside it.
"I take it you both know the rules of Quidditch so I don't have to explain it to you." When he received affirmative nods he continued, "Good. Mount up and we'll see how the two of you can handle a Quaffle." He pulled out the red seamless ball.
Immediately they each picked up a broom and kicked off, Flint tossed the ball up into the air so they could catch it. Harry scooped up the ball one handed so he could continue controlling his broom. The two boys moved across the field, the ball flowing easily between them. A smirk was on Flint's face as he watched, arms crossed over his chest. Without a word he picked up one of the bats out of the box and released a Bludger, hitting it towards them. Harry dodged, catching the ball as Draco threw it, barely avoiding the incoming iron ball. The black ball turned, moving back towards them, adding in the extra need to avoid the Bludger while still playing catch with the Quaffle.
After a few more throws and avoidances Flint called them down, "Good job, I think you've proven yourselves. Find a way to get a proper broom; we can't have you being sub par with all that potential." He forced the Bludger back into the box, "Practices are every Tuesday and Thursday at 5 o'clock sharp. Don't make me regret accepting you on the team."
They nodded, "Thank you." Harry said.
Draco nodded in agreement, "Yes, thank you Marcus." He pulled Harry back towards the castle, "I don't know about you but I'm exhausted, I swear he tried to take my head off with that Bludger."
He laughed in reply, "Your head? What about mine? He aimed at me first."
"Sleep now, argue later." He stated, "Veritas et mendacium." He said to the wall that would lead them to their common room. It didn't take long for the two boys to be clean and curled up in bed, falling asleep the moment their heads hit their pillows.
Next Chapter: Vault 713.
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