Hello. Sorry for the late update. Lagrange multipliers have not been kind to me. Chapter is 9k long.
I have no beta. Mind the Errors.
Disclaimer: Do not own Harry Potter and it's Characters.
On to the story!
The Rise
Chapter 4: A Deviation
By BlackPlasma
...
Harry could of groaned out loudly as he heard Malfoy's voice, how could he have almost forgotten about that boy? Something about the boy irked him, was it the way he carried himself? Or perhaps the two cronies that followed him that reminded him of Dudley and his pig-headed-mindless drones? This Malfoy fella was unafraid of his action if the incident earlier in the train was anything to go by, as if his opinion was the only… That was it! The tell-tell sign's were clearly evident; Harry couldn't help but tense his fingers closer to the median of his palm, hand balled into a fist. This boy was exactly like Dudley, "My Father…" he had said. Spoilt and clearly believing himself to be a figure of superiority through his father… like Dudley the boy who would occasionally beat him with Harry Hunting, the boy who made sure he wasn't befriended by anyone in primary, the boy who always went to his father when he couldn't get his way… just like Dudley, this boy was a bully.
"Well Potter, I asked you a question, why didn't you say who you were! I must've looked like some fool out there in the grand stair case!" the boy in question declared feeling furious that Potter thought himself too good to even disclose who he was.
Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott had been standing to the side of the dormitory putting their trunks away and fishing for their night clothes when they had heard Draco speak. Both boys were trying to lay claim to a four posted bed and they had stopped their due process and watched onto the scene in silence, anxious to the scene in front of them.
Harry looked towards the blond boy annoyed that he wouldn't have a quiet first night. He should have known after all, drama would always find him wouldn't it? Stalking like a shadow under the rays of the golden light in the oceaned sky, a predator that seemed to taken a liking specifically for him unyieldingly. Fucking drama
"Look here, Draco was it? First of all, I don't know who you are, and secondly why should I disclose who I am? It would have made no difference anyway, you wouldn't have been the only student trying to talk to me." Harry blinked, surprised he had said that, it sounded almost arrogant. Well whatever… he wanted to turn in for the night.
Draco stared at Harry, like the rest of the populace he had been surprised when the quiet boy in the train had walked towards the sorting hat, he looked like a lost puppy. Either way, he was ever so pleased that such a known wizard was placed in Slytherin, it was the best house after all.
He wasn't amused at being ignored though, perhaps he should look it over… this one time. He needed this boy on his side, and his influence would only be stronger then and unhindered. He took step forewords and offered his hand. He would try to not to offend the boy any further.
"I'm willing to overlook earlier events, perhaps we can start over, after all a person of your caliber should be acquainted with the correct sort." Draco said with his outstretched arm and looked at Harry expectantly.
"What do you mean with the correct sort?"
Draco looked back at him with his piercing grey eyes, didn't Potter know? Oh how could the Boy-Who-Lived not know who the best allies for him were? Surely he wasn't raised by muggles! …. Was he?
"The girls in the train Potter! How can you associate yourself with such filth! Beneath you they are, you shouldn't keep such company around you, they will brainwash you with muggle loving ideas."
The fury swept through his viens as he stood there hearing his friends being regarded as such lowly individuals, how DARE he call them filth! He wasn't exactly sure what exactly muggle loving was, but to hell with it, no one insulted the people who showed him kindness, he didn't care that Daphne had acted like a pampered spoilt brat earlier at the feast, surely that was just her reaction to being lied to right? After all, he didn't like being lied to either; His anger rose even more when the blond prat looked at him with a sincere smile, taking his silence as agreement, what the blond said next confirmed him onto Harry's dislike list for the next few years.
"I can help you there… Potter."
Help? Help?! He could have laughed right then and there, no doubt the blond would have taken offence, this boy had the audacity to insult the first people he considered friends and yet claimed he can help him? Ha! Preposterous!
"I think I can tell the right sort for myself thanks." Draco's extended hand stayed in its position, unreciprocated.
Draco's eyes had widened before he scowled and withdrew his arm and scowled.
"You'll regret that Potter." Harry stared him in the eye unflinchingly, stood proudly and did what he never could with Dudley, stand defiantly. He could take it when the insults where thrown at him or even when he was beaten, but to insult those who treated him like human being. No, that was where he drew the line.
Draco said nothing further and retreated to the other side of the room and prepared his bed and Harry did the same. The atmosphere was so thick it could have been cut through by the flick of a wand.
Soon Harry laid down in his bed, he had just now noticed that he had Nott and Zabini on either side of him. Zabini layed under the blankets in such a way that only Harry could see his face, before the lights went out, he saw the dark skin boy stare at him, almost calculating before he smirked slightly and moved his arm closer to his face to give Harry a hand gesture, Zabini shot him a thumbs up before he tossed himself the other way and fell asleep.
Harry Blinked…
…
Harry slowly lifted his eyelids as the golden sphere assaulted his face, looking out the window across from him he couldn't help but smile. Golden rays of the light drenched the horizon with pink stained clouds from the end of the black lake, birds took to the sky's and soared with their younglings, creatures from the depths of the black lake jumped out the water greeting the heavenly sun. It was a glorious sight.
He rubbed his eyes as he sat on his bed and looked around the dormitory, the others where still asleep. He must have woken up really early.
He got out his robes and went to prepare himself for the day. Thankfully, the dormitory had an attached washroom, stepping through the mahogany door, he quickly went to shower, dried and brushed his teeth afterwords. The long warm shower had felt alien to him, it was relaxing. His dearest Aunt and Uncle made sure he would shower quickly; wasting the water was a big no no to his relatives. Dudley had to be well cleaned after all.
He stepped out and back into the dormitory to put on his robes. Black with green trimmings and a serpent insignia above his left breast. He had noticed the rest of his year begin to wake, he didn't say anything and went to the common room. There where a few students roaming about chatting with their fellow mates, he noticed the prefect from the night before, chatting it up with some older Slytherin boy, she caught his stare and sent him a smile. The boy talking to her followed her gaze, though he didn't give any smile nor one of coldness, instead he ignored him and quickly chatted up Gemma again, her attention instantly back to the boy.
He was going to make his way out the common room before he had felt someone lay their hand on his shoulder.
"Didn't know you were an early riser too Harry… and good morning."
Harry turned back as the hand slowly retreated, and he caught the face of a boy with dark hair.
"Oh, Hello Graham, you nearly startled me there, and uhh good morning to you too." Harry wasn't familiar with being greeted in the morning… Another testament and proof that his world had changed.
"So you're heading to the great Hall right now too?" Graham asked, Harry nodded.
"Great, I'll show you your way there, though I am waiting here for a fellow third year friend of min- ah there he is."
A boy with black hair and eyes approached the duo, like Graham, the boy cleaned up well and was ready to start the day.
As the boy met the two, Graham had instantly introduced the two to each other. "Harry, this is a friend of mine. Bole, Lucian Bole. And Lucian, this is-"
"-Harry Potter" the boy said. "Everyone knows who you are." He extended his arm, though not in the smug way that Draco had, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance… though Potter mind me for seeming a bit rude but any idea why our head of house seems to dislike you? Last night was completely random, never seen him in such a mood. Thought he was going to curse you when he pointed his wand out, very dramatic of him."
Harry took his hand and shook it and shrugged, indicating he was as clueless as he was. "Have no idea. First time I've met him."
Lucian gave him a raised eyebrow.
The trio had started to chat for a bit, likes, dislikes and soon they started to head out the common room. Harry noticed Tracey and Daphne emerge from their dormitory on the other side of the common room, Tracey emerged with her arms outstretched as she yawned and Daphne stood next to her, though she wasn't expressive as Tracey, but her eyes did indicate she was still half asleep.
Daphne turned her eyes and caught the boy looking at her as he headed out with two older boys who where chatting about. For the briefest of moments, light sapphire had met emerald. She didn't give him any hostile look or one of acknowledgment. He turned back and followed the third year boy's out the common room.
They soon arrived at the Great Hall and the smell of bacon, eggs, pastries and more assaulted their noses. The sweet morning aroma was thick enough that they would be able to have a taste by just sticking out their tongue. He sat down as both the other two boys had, Graham sat in the same area they were in from the night before, though to Harry it seemed coincidence.
"Our head of house seems to loath you for some reason Harry. As Lucian said, last night was well… unexpected, never seen Snape act like that" was the quiet drawl from Montague as he reached for some nearby eggs and bacon, "I though he was about to curse you too when he pointed his wand at you, never seen that happen."
Harry's first opinion of Snape? The man was a freaking arse! Did he really have to expose his scar to the whole damn house?! Even more attention to him, GREAT! BLOODY FANTASTIC! Just what he needed, and that whole celebrity thing, what the bloody hell?
He placed some eggs and sausages on his plate and stabbed the slab of meat, Daphne seemed to turn a one-eighty on him, the pampered brat with the blond hair had threatened him, and his head of house put a sign above his head saying please watch me! The night before had been well, dramatic, was the wizarding world so focused on him that they would even watch him wipe his arse? Suffice to say, he didn't bother hiding his scar anymore, all pretenses of going incognito had gone down the loo.
Soon students filled out the Great Hall, he couldn't help but feel the gazes on his back, he didn't know how but he could feel it. The eyes, the lingering.
A he continued to eat, Harry hadn't realized that someone had sat across from his table until he was addressed by her familiar voice "Good Morning Harry." Looking up, he made eye contact with chestnut, the color slowly reigning recognition as the brown met the green.
Looking up from his egg filled plate he couldn't help but at least let some of the hotness he felt throughout his body recede… a little bit.
"Uhh Hi Tracey, good morning to you too."
Students had filled out the hall, new and old students talked excitedly about the classes and the incoming school year, the professors were talking animatedly as well. He heard a few whispers hear and there from the table near by. Older students informed the new ones on the personalities of each professor and what they could expect. It seemed Flitwick was a favorite.
Paying attention back to the girl in front of him, he couldn't help but notice that she was giving a glance between him and-Daphne, he didn't notice her take a seat next to Tracey. They seemed close after all, un-seperatable even. Daphne's blond hair fell loosely to her midback.
She gave him no look of malice. She seemed… calculating?
He was brought out of his thoughts as a piece of parchment was placed on the side of his plate and goblet.
"Your time-table Mr. Potter."
He looked up to meet the eyes of his head of house, coal black eyes stared into him, Snape said nothing as he reached his arm across the table to hand other pieces of parchments to Daphne and Tracey. Snape turned to him and gave him one last look before he walked down the table, his robe worshiping the ground in which he walked. He turned to the piece of parchments and roamed his eyes over it. It seemed that the first class he would be attending was History of Magic, followed by Charms and then a break along with lunch. Herbology was thereafter and he could call it in for the day. He asked Graham for the time, and the boy pulled out some weird device. He didn't get a real good look but was able to notice it was similar to the clock that Aunt Petunia had, only difference was that instead of numbers and such, the thing had planets and different shades of the moon during the night sky. How the hell did one read that?
"Its about to be seven thirty Harry, I should be off, first class is Transfiguration and that's in fifteen minutes for me, everyone knows there's hell to pay if your late to McGonagall's class. Best be off, see you later Harry and good luck." He stood along with Lucian Bole and the duo made their way towards the entrance door of the Great Hall.
Harry looked back towards the two girls in front of him and observed them. Tracey seemed surprised and aloof the night before though this morning she kept giving him a smile, though the same couldn't be said for Daphne, such a shame, she seemed like a nice girl? Perhaps he should apologize? Maybe. He was in a bad mood as it was. He was forced out of his thoughts as someone sat right next to him.
Blaise Zabini give him a smirk, though Harry couldn't for the life oh him figure out why, was this about last night? After all the boy had given him a thumbs up that was visible him only.
"Hello, Blaise Zabini, it's a pleasure"
Harry eyed the dark boy carefully. "Harry Potter" he shook the boys hand, he couldn't be that bad could he? He seemed like he wasn't fond of Malfoy for whatever reason, nor did give any vibe of superiority. He seemed all right in Harry's book. He was about to ask him about last night but Tracey interrupted him before he could, "Harry I think we should go, I know class starts in another thirty minutes but it doesn't hurt to be early does it? Plus this castle is huge! If we get lost, we at least have the spare time to find our way back." She turned to Blaise and stretched out her hand, "Blaise was it? feel free to join us." Blaise nodded his head and he shook her hand. Blaise introduced himself to Daphne and she did the same.
The group of four stood up and made their way out of the Great Hall. Harry walked next to Daphne who was quiet. When he caught her eye, she had immediately darted her eyes to the floor. As the group walked around the castle, Harry once again couldn't help but be flabbergasted about the moving staircases as they were moving up the stairs. The staircase decided to repurpose a new path for the third time. "Oh for the love Merlin, how the heck do we make it stay still?" Tracey said as she led them.
Blaise shrugged in response "Maybe we try and find a different path?"
"That's going to take forever!" exclaimed the impatient girl. Blaise just looked at her and gave her a slight smile. "Well it's a good thing we left early after all if we get lost, we got the time to find our way back" he said carefully, throwing Tracey's words back at her. Tracey gave him a slight glare.
The group continued their walk, occasionally speeding up the staircases so the blasted thing didn't move on its own again. It would have to take some getting use to. As they walked through, they couldn't help but ask for a bit of help from a Asian girl with blue trimmings on her robe, she looked only a year older than them. "Excuse me but can you point us to the History of Magic classroom?" Blaise had asked.
The girl stared at the group and her eyes quickly flickered over to Harry. How could it not? After all, he was the topic of conversation in the Ravenclaw common room the night before. "Umm, the History of Magic classroom… is on the first floor." She had said.
They were currently on the fourth floor. All four first years, especially Tracey just looked at the Ravenclaw blanky. Tracey's face flushed pink, she was the one who was leading them after all, Daphne took a friendly jab at her. "Good job Tracey, you have a very keen sense of direction. Though I suppose we are all at fault as well since we didn't bother to check on which floor the room was." Tracey's cheeks flushed even deeper before she turned back and started to head back down the grand staircase. The group did so and the Ravenclaw girl watched with amusement as the group of four retreated and headed the way in which they had come from. Cho Chang shook her head and continued on her way, her thoughts on the green-eyed boy everyone had been talking about.
As they finally roamed through the first floor, they spotted their destination. Another group of first years that they had recognized from the sorting stood outside the door, though as they approached, the group couldn't help but notice the whispers.
"Is that him? Next to the blond one?"
"Yea, I think it is! The one with the glasses right?"
"Did you see his face?"
"Did you see his scar?"
"Wicked."
Harry found himself feeling uncomfortable as the group outside the classroom were trying to steal glances at him, some were even tiptoeing to get good look at him; Harry went straight to the door and wondered if it was locked since everyone was outside in the corridor. Twisting the handle, he found it to be unlocked and quickly slipped inside. Tracey, Daphne, and Blaise quickly followed in after him. He went to take a seat.
Luckily the tables seated four students and the group was able to fill one out. Within the next ten minutes the class was nearly full, Draco and his two goons along with the other boy in their year walked in. It seemed that this first class was between the Slytherins and the Hufflepuffs.
A man slowly glided through the wall and Harry's eyes went wide as well as most of the students, the ghost continued to float over to the front of the room and started the lesson immediately.
"Welcome to Hogwarts and to your first class. I am Professor Binns and this is the first year in History of Magic, I don't bother with roll call. We will begin at once. Now in five-hundred B.C….
Harry spent the next hour and a half listening to the slow monotone voice of the ghost, the Professor had sounded almost bored, like he was reciting the lesson for the fifth hundred time. His slow wheezy voice made Harry feel like his eyelids were getting a bit heavier with every passing minute, fifty minutes in and he couldn't take the drowsiness any longer and let his eyelids fall. Comfortable darkness consumed him for the next twenty minutes.
He woke as someone gently jabbed him on his ribs, he looked over to see Daphne looking at him tiredly, looking around he found that he wasn't the only one who let sleep overtake them, it seemed like half the class had their forehead glued to the desks and the other half struggling to stay awake. Daphne seemed to have been awake the whole time if her parchment filled notes was any indicator, though it seemed as if it was a hard battle, the last few paragraphs of notes seemed to be written rather sloppily. They were soon dismissed ten minutes after.
He saw Daphne shake Tracey awake. She woke with a yawn and then blinked. "You fell asleep Tracey, Half the class did. I almost did too." The blond said to her brown haired friend. Tracey stretched her arms slowly nodding dumbly before she picked up her stuff, it seemed she was able to make it at least halfway, her parchment was filled halfway with notes until it had stopped abruptly, no doubt marking where she succumbed to sleep.
"That was the worst first experience ever, when did I pass out Daph?"
Daphne gave her friend a slight smile, "I think sometime around the Goblin-Wizard treaty of 342 B.C? Or …."
…
The first week went by slowly for Harry and thankfully, the whispers from the student populace slowly subsided throughout the week, Malfoy passed him a sneer in the common room and occasionally in class. All in all, it wasn't a bad week, though he had been placed in an odd situation in charms class. While taking roll call, Professor Flitwick let out a squeak when he had reached Harry's name during roll call and promptly fell backwards from the textbooks in which he stood. Suffice to say, it was a rather awkward period.
Transfiguration was another topic of interest, he had struggled a bit with the transfiguration of a needle, though he managed to get it right before the end. The only others to do so successfully was the Granger girl with the bossy and borderline overbearing voice. The other being Daphne, Though she had told Harry that her mom would let her borrow her wand after she had gotten her schoolbooks. Now that she could use her own wand, she was able to transfigure the needle after a few tries.
As Harry stood outside the potions room, he couldn't help but think of Daphne's rather odd behavior the past week. His first conversation with Malfoy during the first night had left him in a bad mood and frankly, didn't ever bother apologizing, if she was going to be acting in such a way during the feast then so be it, he wasn't going to put up with that attitude. However occasionally sensed her looking at him from the corner of his eye, and when he turned to catch her gaze, she had immediately looked to her shoes. She was relatively quiet the whole week.
"Say Tracey, is it really true that our head of house is harsh to the other houses?"
Tracey shrugged at the question "I don't know Harry, this is our first lesson after all, plus we shouldn't listen to the rumor mill" Harry nodded his head, he couldn't help but smile at his brown haired friend, she didn't give him any malice after the sorting feast and continued to treat him well, like just Harry. He felt really appreciated of her, though she pulled him aside sometime during the week to talk to him. He couldn't help ponder what they had talked about and if he said so himself, it was a rather awkward conversation, he was desperate to keep her as his friend. He was foreign to having relationships with people.
"Harry, can I ask you something… in private?"
"Yea sure." replied Harry, a feeling of dread slowly spread out through his body, he knew exactly what she was going to ask him about. They where in the common room and thankfully Daphne wasn't there. Tracey recalled that she had been in the library studying, whatever for Tracey had no idea and Blaise was on the other side of the room talking with Theodore Nott. She had dragged him to a study table that was unoccupied and away from everyone else. She took a seat and Harry did the same on the opposite side of the table.
Harry stared at her for the following seconds and she did just the same. She stayed quiet for a few seconds not knowing exactly how to proceed.
"H-Harry, why did you-why did you not tell us who you were?" She stared at him, waiting for an answer. "I felt rather embarrassed of what I said about the books written about you. Though I'm sure you have your reasons, right?"
Harry gave her a look of guilt, she was right, she and Daphne would have never talked about their childhood fantasies had they known his true Identity.
"Tracey, its just that, well, I don't know really know how to explain it and its just that- that I didn't want you both to have false pretenses of me. I just froze when you guys started talking about it." Harry had said. "I never knew that I was a wizard, or a famous one at that until I got my Hogwarts letter, I lived my life with my relatives". Harry explained no further than that. Maybe he should have told her the reactions in the Leaky Cauldron? "When I first went to Diagon Alley, a gentlemen in the Leaky Cauldron noticed me and it wasn't long until the entire pub tried to shake my hand and it freaked me out a bit." He looked down to the table, hopefully she wouldn't get mad at him right?
Still looking at the table he spoke again after a few seconds of silence that had passed quickly "I never wanted this attention, you've seen the way people look at me, the way they whisper, its just a lot to take in you know? People may see the Boy-Who-Lived and praise me for what I supposedly did, but do you know what I'm reminded of?" He looked up to meet her brown eyes who looked at him questioningly with a gentle face. "Reminded of what Harry?"
His voice quivered slightly " My parents Tracey". He explained no more. The flash of green lights and the screaming that haunted his dreams would forever stay a secret.
Tracey immediately gave him a look of sympathy and pity and made her way to sit next to him. "Im so sorry Harry, I-I don't know what to say" she said unsurely, she did the only thing that she could think of and hugged him. Awkward indeed.
Neither noticed the boy on the other side of the room watching, the end of his lips curled upward into a smirk. His eyes glinted, the scene brought him satisfaction. He could use this to his advantage. Though now wasn't the time, no he needed the entire house of Slytherin to witness Potter's humiliation. He would be patient… for now.
The group entered the Potions classroom and took their seats however the desks were designed so that it would only allow for two to sit at a time. Harry and Blaise took one, Daphne and Tracey took another nearby. The room slowly filled in with students. As the classroom filled out, it was clearly evident that there was a separation between the students with green trimmings on their robes and the ones with red. One side green the other red. To Harry, It was clear since their first transfiguration class that Gryffindors and Slytherins did not like each other.
The students in general were awaiting their Professor who had yet to show up, so as to pass the time they had started gossiping. A red headed boy too joined in to talk with some of his friends, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan. Though he was the one talking and the other two were listening to whatever he was saying, he glanced at Harry occasionally.
The sound of the door flinging open silenced the room and Snape made his way towards the front of the class with his wand out as he flickered the windows shut "There will be no foolish wand waving and silly incantations in this room. No…" he drawled out slowly and put his wand away speaking in almost nothing but a whisper "…what I have to teach you is more. So. Much. More. Some of you will hardly believe that what you do in here is magic. I can teach you the subtle art in which you can ensnare the senses bewitching the mind, the ever dangerous ingredients slowly swiveling in the veins of your enemy. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper to death…" His eyes quickly flickered over to Harry but said nothing. "… that is of course if you aren't the big bunch of dunderheads that I usually have to teach. Todays lesson will be easy for we will be brewing a potion to cure boils. Now before we begin, I will educate you on the tools that you should have brought with you today."
He went on to explain proper handling of some of the most sharpest utensils, he also explained each tool. What it was and its uses in preparing a potion. He took a quick roll call. Snape then explained the potion they were going to brew as he wrote out the instructions on the black board in front of the class. "Begin" he had said. No one took his or her leisurely time.
Harry and Blaise worked together on the potion, Harry decided he should be responsible for the cutting and chopping. His skill with a knife was well honed after the many meals he prepared for the Dursleys. Blaise had agreed to the actual brewing. They worked in silence and eventually Snape started to walk around the classroom insulting a Gryffindor here and there. He made his way to where Harry and Blaise were, he made eye contact with both boys and his eyes lingered on Harry for a long second. Snape easily towered over his small frame and Harry gulped, he had to raise his head to meet Snapes eyes, hopefully his professor didn't point his wand at him again. Snape slowly let his eyes wonder over the desk, and his eyes fell on the potion. He gave the both boys a nerve-chilling stare, he seemed like he had wanted to say something, like he was fighting to say something. His eyes met Harrys, "Acceptable" was all Snape said after an intense moment, he slowly turned around and went ahead to check on Tracey and Daphne. "Exceeds Expectation" Harry heard him praise the girls.
Both girls looked at each other and smiled, pleased with their work.
It wasn't until a few minutes later that Harry and Blaise heard an explosion. Everyone nearby looked towards the cause, the boy who had lost his toad on the train stood in front of an obliterated cauldron with the potion all over him. Boils quickly emerged from the poor boy's skin. Everyone in the room held their breath as they observed the following effect.
Snape made his way over to the boy quickly cursing under his breath, he surveyed the damage and immediately his eyes lay upon the ingredients. The idiot boy had used the porcupine quills before he had taken the potion off from the fumes. He had emphasized that during lecture! Another dunderhead that couldn't follow the simplest of instructions!
Snape continued to survey the desk and his heart stopped as he stared at the thing. It had been melted through and resembled a piece of blob. The cause of his heart stopping wasn't the idiot boy whimpering in pain as boils erupted even more from his skin, no that wasn't it. Potion brewing was an art form to him and Snape's heart cried out to perfectly good potion ingredients and the delicate instruments in which he brewed. For Snape, the loss of the cauldron ate away at his heart, its carefully crafted pewter made form never to brew another potion again, the blob was now forever ingrained in his memory.
Obliterating a perfectly good cauldron was a sin in his eyes.
"Idiot boy!" he grabbed onto Neville's arm and pulled him up from the ground roughly. He turned to Seamus and spat at the boy "Get him out of my sight. Take him to the Hospital Wing!"
"Why didn't any of you stop him, I clearly said to take the potion off the fire to add the porcupine quills!" said Snape angrily as he addressed the side of the room filled with Gryffindors. No one said anything, terrified fof the fuming man in front of them.
"Not very brave to take the blame then?" He sneered at the group. "Twenty points from Gryffindor."
Harry watched the red headed boy stand on his feet, hands clenched into a fist next to his thighs. "You can't do that! It wasn't his fault! He was sabotaged!" If it was possible, Snape sneered even more. "Oh really Mr. Weasley, and who would do such a thing?"
The boy had turned red as he turned towards Harry's general direction. "It was Malfoy who did it! Everyone knows the git hates Gryffindor!" Ron Weasley replied.
Snape was looking murderous. "Well did you see him do it Mr. Weasley" his sneer not looking like it was going to disappear anytime soon.
"N-no, but I bet Hermoine did!" Hermoine Granger suddenly wanted to run away as Snape's attention was directed to her, his coal black eyes made her squirm.
"Well, Ms. Granger, is what Mr. Weasley saying true?
Granger looked to the floor and mumbled something, her voice quivered. "Louder." Snaped drawled out slowly.
"N-no" she said louder, she couldn't lie to an authority figure after all, not even for a fellow housemate. Snape grinned in victory "That's another twenty points from Gryffindor for falsely accusing a fellow classmate."
"Hey wait ju-" Hermoine heard the red haired boy start, he was going to cost Gryffindor another twenty points!"
"And Detention Mr. Weasley."
Ron Weasley said no more.
Harry heard Draco Malfoy slowly snicker in the background. Harry watched the scene with wide eyes, he was so glad he didn't end up in Gryffindor. Snape was a predator hunting big game, and the game was lions.
The rest of the class period was spent working in silence, no on dared to speak. Especially the Gryffindor's, they did not fancy tickling the big snake in the room.
The class period slowly came to a close and all the students had stowed a sample of their potion into vials to turn in. Harry and Blaise had made it out of the door and waited for Daphne and Tracey, both girls soon emerged and the group of four made their way to the great hall for lunch, no one had said anything until they got out of the dungeons. Tracey broke the silence.
"Holy…"
"…Crap" Blaise finished for her. The tension in the room had been so thick after the cauldron exploded that no one had dared to start yacking, the tension had leaked out into the dungeons.
"He was so-so pissed. Im so glad none of us are Gryffindors. Did you see the boy's face? He looked like was about to crap himself. I mean, I wouldn't blame him. Now I know. Never give reason to upset our Head of House." Harry, Daphne, and Blaise nodded in agreement. The group continued to walk and someone had called out to Harry and the group. He turned to see Graham Montague approaching them alone.
"Hey guys, you heading towards the Great Hall for lunch?" Harry nodded his head. "Yea we are, you want to come with us?"
Graham nodded his head.
"Have lover boy join us? Only if he promises to tell us more about Romeo Montague" Tracey giggled and Graham groaned regretting calling out to them. Tracey giggled again. "I'm only teasing."
The group slowly made their way to the Great Hall and soon were having lunch. As they were sitting, owls flew in from the great windows of the Great Hall and dropped off letters here and there to students. One owl in particular landed in front of Daphne, it held out a leg with a letter attached to it.
Tracey looked on curiously as Daphne silently read the reply from home with somewhat of a frown, she put the letter down and sighed.
…
Sometime during the week
Daylight had long since vanished from the sky, the dark void blanketed all of Britain and the twinkles of light in the sky permeated a nice substitute for the vanished sun. In the deepest sections of the Ministry of Magic were two workers that had stayed past the hours of normal operations, the unusualness for them beckoned them to stay the night.
Cyrus Greengrass observed the device as the light pulsed flamboyantly. The behavior of the device was a most curious thing indeed. There wasn't a decent explanation for the behavior, all possible causes escaped him, the possible theories he could think of were ignored as the device let out another flash of light. And like the flash of light so too were many of his hypothesis thrown out the window. He let out a frustrated grunt.
A man leaning against the wall close by observed him, his cloak fell down to his knees and the hood over his head covered much of his face in the dark and only visible to the man in front of him. "I take it you are having difficulty as well Cyrus?"
The man in question turned towards his fellow friend and boss who eyed him curiously. He looked at the device again with narrowed eyes.
"I don't know what exactly is the cause but there is no doubt about it Saul, it calls for serious investigation."
Saul let out a laugh as his back leaned against the wall. "If you can't seem to think of anything, what makes you think anyone else will?" I certainly can't think of anything, that's why I have you looking at it, you are but one of the few that can possibly come up with a theory that explains it. Though I suppose even you can have trouble. Surprising really. I suppose for now we should just keep an eye on it and try to recognize a pattern I suppose, if it even has one."
Cyrus looked towards his friend and shook his head. It was late in the night and he was tired, so was Saul judging by how he was supporting himself against the wall. Or was he at it again?
"Who else have you had look it over?"
"Everyone."
"Everyone?"
"Yes everyone Cyrus, like I said, if you don't have any idea then the next best thing to do is to wait and see. Don't give me that look. You know what happened last time."
Cyrus gave him a stern look. "Then send me in."
Saul clenched his gut as he let out a hurl of laughter escape, the brandy he downed earlier having a clear effect on him. He turned back his worker and cleared his lungs. "Can't do that Cyrus. I won't lose one of my best. That last incident left me a bit paranoid. Besides what's the rush? You need to accept my invitations one of these days, just come with me and Algernon to that pub across the street. We'll get pissed drunk! Even you need to let loose some steam.
Cyrus smiled at his friend. "Saul."
Saul gave him a questioning look, and shortly pulled out a bottle of brandy with a mischievous grin. Cyrus ignored it
"You'll have better luck convincing Bode"
Saul's face darkened and he had immediately scowled, it was no secret he despised the mention.
Cyrus grinned and let out a small laugh "I'm pulling your leg Saul. Anyways it is late and its time to go, I do have to get some shut eye you know. I have a family to get back to too."
Saul let out a sigh. "Very well, I'll see you tomorrow then Cyrus."
Cyrus Greengrass nodded, but not before he put the device back in place. He narrowed his eyes at it again as its shimmering light slowly diminished into a black void. He soon gathered his things and made his way to the Ministry's auditorium. He went over to a nearby fire place and flooed home shortly after.
He landed in the living room of the Greengrass Estate. His stomach had instantly growled out and he instinctively clutched over it and he sighed. It had been a very long and tiring day. He stepped towards the direction of the kitchen; a popping sound immediately halted his steps. He found the eyes of a house elf staring back at him as it bowed graciously. "Master's lady is waiting for him in the kitchen sir." Cryrus nodded to the house elf who was still bowing down to him.
"That's actually were I was headed anyways, thanks Algy." The elf bowed graciously again and with a pop disappeared. He continued to walk towards the kitchen, upon reaching it he observed a face that rivaled an angel, her blond hair flowed freely. Her blue eyes was focused on something in her lap. His wife was reading a book when she noticed him enter. Her eyes sparkled and she sent him a gentle smile, her mouth opened to address him "I had a hunch that you would be late today, I had the elves prepare food for you in advance. Its fresh." On cue, Algy popped into the room and laid a goblet and plate of food in front of Cryus, it bowed again and left with a pop.
He nodded his head appreciatively towards his wife, he sat down and began to eat the food in front of him, occasionally taking gulps from the goblet. He hadn't ate since the afternoon. His wife watched him eat for the first few minutes, her blue eyes scanned his face and eyes, she noted his eyes held stress and fatigue, she smiled a bit before her eyes left his face and returned to the book on her lap, beginning from where she had left off.
Cyrus enjoyed the food and drink, his stomach was satisfied as he finished. Algy popped back in to take the plate and drink, the elf soon vanished. He stood up and made his way towards the living room and went up the stairs. His wife walked beside him. They walked in comfortable silence heading for the master bedroom, however Cyrus stopped a few doors down their destination. He expected to look into the same empty bedroom he had looked into the past few nights. However, it wasn't empty and the occupant in the room slept peacefully in the bed. The door had exquisite lettering on the front plate with the owner's name engraved. The room read 'Daphne'. Cyrus gave his wife a raised eyebrow. She sent him a small but sad smile.
His wife looked towards the girl in the bed, they both watched her sleep for a few seconds before his she spoke.
"She misses her sister. Sleeping in here makes her feel more comfortable, and she wears her pajamas, it makes her feel… connected in some way." Cyrus nodded before he gave her a slight smile and closed the door. Astoria looked beautiful as the moonshine highlighted her features, the blanket slowly rose up and down in sync with her breathing. He continued on his way to the master bedroom. Once in his room, he quickly changed into his sleeping wear, washed his face and brushed his teeth. His wife had already done so and sat on top of the bed still reading the same book. He made his way over to his side of the bed.
She looked him over and she closed the book to put on her nightstand, she turned to her husband who stared at the ceiling. She crawled her way over to him, "Sit up" she had said and he did so without question. She immediately started to unbutton his sleeping shirt. She reached over from behind him. As soon as the shirt fell off her husband, she immediately reached out to massage his massive shoulders.
"You've been coming later than usual the past few days." She stated to him calmly. "Astoria asked me where her father was. She stayed up later than usual waiting for him so that he could read her a bedtime story."
Cyrus remained quiet for a few seconds before he ran through a hand through his hair. "Sorry Roxanne, Croaker has been working us like hounds lately, he has been agitated the past few days due to… a project. He even invited me to go get drunk with him and Algernon.
Roxanne remained quiet but continued to massage his shoulders. "Whatever he has you working on, it must be serious."
"It is." and he said no more, Roxanne didn't question him any further. They passed the next few minutes in silence; Roxanne continued to do circle motions with her fingers. He close his eyes enjoying the sensation. His wife spoke again a few minutes later.
"Daphne's first letter arrived today."
Cyrus smiled.
"Well?" he asked.
"Slytherin." Roxanna answered knowingly to the unasked question. "You were right."
His smile didn't falter. "Well, she can be quiet deceptive when she has too. Though, she needs to watch that temper of hers. I wonder where it came from?"
His wife smiled. "Was I really like that?"
Cyrus couldn't help but break out into a grin, "Oh, you were worse."
He felt her pedicured nails dig in a bit and started to massage...a bit rough. He still kept on grinning. "Though you have come a long way…"
She relented her grip and smiled. "Daphne will have some work ahead of her. Anyhow, your letter remains unopened."
He raised a single eyebrow. "She sent two?"
"Yes, one for us each. Though I'm sure she wants to tell you something for your eyes only. After all, you are her favorite parent."
"I'll read it in the morning."
"I've placed it in your study."
Soon enough Cyrus had let the comfort of darkness consume his eyes.
Cyrus woke up with a start; his wife woke up long before him it seemed, she was no longer in the room. He got ready for the day, and headed down the stairs. He was immediately assaulted by a blur of brown hair, his own brown hair.
"Daddy! Were where you last night?! I tried waiting for you but you never showed up! You own me a bed time story!"
He observed his youngest, her hair was a mess and she was still in her pajamas though it wasn't hers, it was Daphne's when she was Astoria's current age. He couldn't help but snicker at it, there where little drawings of dragons with a boy riding it, a boy with a most peculiar lightening bolt scar on the forehead. "Tori, those aren't yours, you have your own, plus those little paintings are horrendous. Yours are more beautiful; Daphne was …exposed too much to a certain book."
Astoria tilted her head to the side. "You mean the Boy-Who-Lived." She let out a giggle.
Cyrus wanted to get rid of those god awful things, why did he ever buy them for Daphne again? Oh right, she begged him with those amazing eyes she shared with her mother. He couldn't refuse. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
"You don't know what Daphne would do if she found out right? She know she doesn't like to share…" The girl had shuddered a bit in fear before she replied "Then I'll see to it she won't find out."
Cyrus grinned and ruffed her hair a bit. She ran off to join her mother who was sitting in the patio outside with a glass of lemon juice in her hand. He found the plate his youngest had left; the sight of unfinished waffles greeted him. Algy had immediately popped in and took the plate with him. He had his breakfast a few minutes later and before long he had finished. Rising up he made his way to his study. He placed his hand on the door and it soon unlocked the wards. The heavily warded door was keyed to his and Roxanne's magic, his study was one of most privacy as it held many secrets. Secrets of the Greengrass's, books that were thought to be long extinct, secrets that he would make sure never left this room. In fact it was so heavily warded that it was ready to self-destruct on command and if someone or something tried to force their way in. As he sat in his desk, he noticed the letter awaiting him. He opened it and read its contents slowly. Why did his eldest write something to him and him alone? He soon found out why as his eyes widened as he read more and more.
It seemed Daphne had befriended the Boy-Who-Lived, albeit temporally, though he could understand why the boy would hide his identity, well at least he didn't bask in his fame like so many eleven year olds would in his position. It seemed that she had let her little temper problem get the best of her. He sighed. Was teaching her occlumency at ten a good idea? He should have waited for her to be older, no doubt it had backfired on her, instead of dealing with her emotions internally, she had let her emotions get the best of her, no doubt whatever bottled feeling of anger she had since the start of her training exploded towards the poor boy. Though he hoped it wasn't too much anger. How much anger could a young girl going from ten to eleven bottle anyways? No doubt she would have to remake the shields. Whatever anger she had hid behind her occlumency, he was sure Harry Potter, Boy-Who-lived got blasted with it.
He looked up to see that his wife was sitting across from him, he hadn't notice her walk in. "I've received word from Narcissa Malfoy that she would like for us to go over for dinner next week."
Cyrus groaned. No doubt Lucius Malfoy wanted something from him, a favor or something of the sort. He ran his fingers through his hand. "I have no time to play this childish game, is there any way to decline without offending?." His wife gave him a look, "Honey, you know we have to keep up appearances."
Cyrus nodded his head slowly and tiredly. Being perceived neither dark nor light was hard for him to maintain. Merlin was he lucky to have been neutral in the last war, both sides were equally as bigoted, though for different reasons. The Dark Lord and his supremacist agenda had a poor taste in his mouth. And the light side, well, those families saw the world in black and white. Like the world was split into two categories, the death eaters and the Dumbledore supporters. Fools they were, both sides.
He looked over to his wife, "I have to write a quick reply to Daphne, I might be awhile, I also have some things to take care of. " She nodded and stood to leave. He pulled out some tools from under his desk. Ideas immediately swarmed his mind. His wife looked back at him curiously, she gave him one last look and closed the door.
He wrote a quick reply to Daphne.
He then placed the tools under his desk directly in front him, he looked at them with a frown. The device from last night disturbed him deeply as it did too for Saul. He had to give it to is friend this time, he was sure Saul was pulling one on him when he had said that he had everyone look the device over. Saul was pulling one on him right? Surely Algernon had thought of something? Then again, Saul rarely bluffed when they where dealing with a matter as serious as this. No, he wasn't messing with him. And if anyone had no idea, then well… disturbing indeed.
Looking his tools over again he quickly went to grab one that was made from brass. He inspected the device over and immediately concluded it wouldn't do. He reached for another device however he knocked another tool over.
He cursed under his breath as the thing hit something on his desk. It wasn't anything significant but it had been a small gift from Saul . It was some weird muggle thing. Saul Croaker had told him that the muggles had called it 'Newtons Cradle' or something along those lines. He stared as the balls hit each other back and forth; he didn't even bother stopping it, he found it a bit amusing. He continued to work in silence for the next few hours, inspecting each of his tools carefully.
After a while Cyrus let out a frustrated groan. None of his ideas would work on the damn device, for each new thought he had, there had easily been a block to the process or a weakness! The sound of the balls hitting each other was starting to frustrate him or maybe he was mad that he couldn't think of quick solutions like he always had? Merlin he could just blast the thing where it stood. He stood up and pointed his wand at it and planned to annihilate it with a Reducto. He stared at the thing for a few more seconds, as he was about to let the words out of his mouth, he stopped immediately. His eyes widened in shock at the idea he had, it was almost ludicrous!. He immediately grabbed his equipment. He had one destination in mind, the only destination.
The Department of Mysteries
...
Happy to see this story is getting a healthy following. 250 new followers and 43 reviews from last chapter alone! This story will be epic in length. Thanks to all of you who have reviewed/followed/favorited. Makes me Happy.
Quick note. Saul and Algernon are two different people.
Sorry for the lack of action, I had a cool idea that I had written down and was 4k long and already written. However the idea was scraped. Its the first week so no epic duels between Harry and Draco fighting to be king of Wizarding Britain.
With how limited knowledge Harry has of magic, action has been hard for me to write so far. Be patient and you shall be rewarded.
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BP out.