Harry paused mid sentence as the sound of fork hitting goblet filled the air. His eyes drifed over to Dumbledore and filtered out the unimportant bits. Banned items, forbidden forest is forbidden for a reason, third floor off-limits to al- Hello there you gorgeous present opportunity to mess with a scheming alzheimers old man. It was all likelihood a trap or test for some unknown end game but curiosity and the cat. 'Only I'm the cat in this situation and I'm already alive & dead' he thought as a small smirk broke out at the edges of his lips.
"Schrödinger? Are you alright? You look like you're about to go on a spree" Lilith Rothchild, a muggleborn witch and the only other girl sorted into the Dire-kin house, asked cautiously weighing her words. While the seven of them talked over the course of dinner, small talk of dislike likes hobbies etc, she had noticed something odd about her housemate situated between the two blonde witches. Not only did he seem to be constantly moving, something that could easily be called nerves but she didn't think was the case with him, but his eyes were suspiciously sharp with an underlined intelligence. There was something in that emerald gaze that told her he knew a lot more than he let on to knowing. Something that was dangerous and she certainly never wanted to be on the opposing side of. Something that seemed far more primal and animal under the skin than human.
Harry turned his gaze and let his smirk fall into a good natured grin. Oh, for such a young and naive to the magical world witch like the young miss Rothchild to pick up on that was both interesting and of concern. At most Daphne and Luna, when the time was right of course, should be the only ones aware of his moods but certainly not miss Rothchild. "Nein, nein. No need to worry to a pretty red hair on your head" he said and patted the witch on the head much like a big brother to his little sister. "I just tend to...have moments where it seems my state of being is in questionable states of mental health. I promise that come the the morning there will be no dead bodies or scattered body parts decorating the halls like a blood colored Andy Warhol." Ok maybe that came out a little condescending but Lilith seemed to get the message loud and clear, don't ask questions you don't truly want perfectly candid answers too, as a nervous laugh escaped her lips.
"R-right.. Sorry.I have a bad habit of worrying about other people" Lilith said weakly as she scratched the side of her cheek in embarrasment.
On either side of her James and Harrison Ginty, identical twin brothers with dusky complexions wheat coloroed hair and sea blue eyes, wrapped an arm around her comfortingly. "Thats a little"
"Grim for"
"A simple question don't you"
"Think so mate?"
Daphne palmed her face and cursed under breath. She had heard of twin siblings having this ability to finish thought, sentences and idea mid-stream & now she was going to have to live with it for seventy months while she got her education; it would make a girl scream if she didn't have an appearance to hold up. Her eyes glared at the Potter boy responsible for it. "A simple 'I'm fine, nothing tonworry about' would have sufficed jnstead of scaring the poor girl" she said kneading the bridge of her nose. Morgana forgive her for whatever she did to deserve this type of punishment. Who knows what her family would think of this when they heard. She was supposed to be in Slythin where her friends were and the children of her parents friends were. She was supposed to cultivate a reportoire with the children of her parents friends so that when she took over as Lady Greengrass and the others as the heads of their houses business would run as usual. Now there was no telling what would happen or if she could still do that.
"I do believe that is precisely what Schrödinger said Daphne. Perhaps you should get those Diddling Ear Plorts removed. They tend to cause a very escalated change in moods" Luna said with a very serious nod. She wasn't bothered by the incredulous stares by the others save Schrödinger who merely raised an eyebrow. Dropping a hand into her robe pockets she pulled out six copies of The Quibbler and handed them out. "Contrary to popar belief" she abandoned her normally airy dreamy tone for a more dry & serious one "my fathers publication is not as dotty as he purposefully makes it out to be. If you rub more than two brain cells together you could see that the Daily Prophet reports what the British Ministry wants you to believe is the truth. My father has the courage to do it but tell the people who know how to read between the lines the actual truth. Try it, you might learn something." The ditzy breezy smile returned as the deserts appears and she dug in with gusto to a bright neon green pudding.
Harry and the others exchanged a glance thinking that Luna switching seeming personalities on a dime was a little disconcerting. He saw the cornered girl on the train, a playful girl in the privacy of the compartment, the carefree ditzy blonde and now there was a complete one eighty where she could be a dry & grim serious. Well today was certainly a time for learning and classes didn't start til monday. "Well, I'm game to giving it a shot. The muggles do say to give at least one shake, two if you want to to be thorough but three is-"
Michael Flynn, a rather pale boy with brown hair and eyes, slapped a hand over Schrödingers mouth. "That is the wrong context to use that principle" he said with a rather pointed look.
"How am I supposed to know that? Before Albus Dumbledore came to take me school shopping the best experiences I had with muggles was criminal youths my own age. The aunt and uncle he put me with treated me no better than a slave. Got beat for everything and nothing at all. My cousin Dudley broke a vase and blames me for it? Get beaten. Didn't finish breakfast in time? Get besten. Forget about food, I only got fed scraps not suitable for a dog when I would start hacking up blood bile and water on the edge of death. I mean, do you know how hard it is for a kid to steal and hawk shit on the streets so that he has five pounds to his name so he can afford a candy bar after not being fed for two weeks because 'the little freak stole duddy-kins homework to make him look stupid!'" Harry said trying to imitate his aunt Petunias high pitched saueaky voice and failing.
The six other occupants of the Dire-kin table and those of the Ravenclaw table close enough to hear looked absolutely mortified. To many Albus Dumbledor was the pinnacle of all things Light, to those of that mindset, and to others-mostly muggleborns- he was supposed to be the pinnacle of progress to level the playing the field for everyone to have an equal chance no matter your blood status or status in general. To accuse him of knowingly placing Harry Potter in an abusive environment where his heritage of being a wizard would come out and make him a target for violence from family of all things... It just couldn't be,. There had to be another explanation.
Harry nodded his head mentally and enjoyed the taste of his pie. Good, the old bastard had been listening and reading his lips as evidenced by the look in the mans eyes being rather dark. Raising a glass subtly he took a drink and spit it out promptly. "By god what is this swill? Its attrocious" he said staring distastefully at the orange liquid.
"Pumpkin juice. Its a forced on you acquired taste by most of wizard society til the age of majority and most people turn to alcohol to forget about pumpkin juice" Luna said as she sipped at a cup of tea.
"Luna, where did you get that?" Harry asked slowly as he pointed at the tea mug and its steaming contents.
"Oh, silly Schrödinger. All you must do at dinner is ask for a substitution if something isn't to your liking. Daddy told me the house elves are more than accomodating. Being subservient by nature they are more than happy to adjust at the snap of your fingers and a kindly worded request. They may be subservient but they are still sentient beings with feelings" Luna said with a soft giggle.
Harry almost wanted to pound his head into the table for his stupidity. How could he have forgotten something so basic? House elves would equally be an asset as much as they would be a problem. "Can I have a mug of Earl Grey, light on the cream and two cubes of sugar" he said snapping his fingers. In a flash the mug of pumpkin juice was gone an a mug of steaming tea was before him. Giving it a test stir to melt the sugar he took a sip and was much more pleased. "Much more appreciated, thank you."
Up at the staff table Dumbledore was grinding his teeth behind the forced smile. If he had to deal personally with the insolent little brat Potter himself it would be the last thing the boy would regret on this mortal coil. Reading the boys lips was easy but seeing the looks of disgust and horror before dark looks were shot at him was something he had to contain but ho-
Harry smirked slightly pushing his plate away as a bowl of pudding appeared in front of Luna whose eyes lit up like the St. Brutus christmas tree. Oh the blonde witch was definitely amusing and interesting to him, Daphne was interesting to a degree as well but not nearly as much, that he began to ponder if she might be useful in his future plots. Having a friend who nobody takes seriously because your family is thought as dotty loons was a clear strategic advantage. 'Not to mention she is cute. Who knows, she might be more than a friend' he thought privately to himself.
"Now that all the neccesities are out of the way and we are all fed & watered it is time for us to retire. If you will follow your Prefects-"
"You forget my students Albus Dumbledore."
All eyes turned to the doors of the Great Hall that blew open with a great force and bang. Standing between the massive oak doors was a man who could pass as in his fourties with the beginning hints of grey hair making strides though his held back long blonde hair. Fairly well muscled in robes that clung to his form like a second skin the man noted more than a few women and the older female students making doe eyes at him while drooling. "And while we are talking about me I would suggest lowering your wands unless you wish to lose not just your wand but the arm holding it" the man said with a rather irked scowl.
Harry looked at the man and raised an appraising eyebrow at him. He was certainly different but it was something in the mans magic that was more.. wild would be the term he would use tentatively. "Oohh, I like him. Can we keep him Luna? I promise to feed, water and take him for walks. I already have the perfect names for him already! Rex, Killer, Beastie or my personal favorite- Sexmuffin" he said rolling his eyes sarcastically. He wasn't being serious, not completely anyway, but it seemed that the girls understood his jest as they laughed good naturedly but rolled their eyes at him.
Lilith choked on her drink as Schrödinger listed off the last one and her face went atomic cherry red at the implication the boy had made so non-chalantly. "Y-you-you don't say that kind of thing out loud!" she said through a stutter and squeak.
The McGinty twins looked confused while Michaels head collided with the table. Lunas eyes glowing with amusement and Daphnes sheer cluelessness made Harry snicker while his periphal senses picked up several other presumed mugggleborn students at the Ravenclaw table choke on their own drinks.
"Having a pet is a big responsibility Schrödinger. Besides all that what would your owl and lovely feline familiar think if you came back with a new pet? I highly doubt that they would approve of sharing" Luna said in a tutting tone while wagging her finger at him.
While the two youths had their fun with the situation Dumbledore and the rest of the staff had been on their feet with wands drawn the moment the man had been visible. No one had the brass ones to directly attack Hogwarts alone and here was a man claiming their students were HIS students. "Identify yourself" Dumbledore ordered keeping his wand level at the mans chest. He already knew he would have a massive headache to deal with from Minerva with Harry revealing that he'd purposefully placed the boy with abusive muggles but it was made worse when the boy added on for his housemates to hear just how often & how miniscule things would earn him a beating.
"Albus, Albus, Albus." The man advanced carefree of the danger he was in as a wild gleam entered his eyes. "You already know who I am don't you ya old goat?" he asked mockingly. "You and every Headmaster after Headmaster Goldshaft tried to purge me and mine from the history of Hogwarts. My House, my contributions to the school. What my House stood for." The man continued not fazed by the stunning spell that impacted the center of his chest. "That tickled Albus." A ferocious smirk painted itself on his lips as he made a motion of his hand.
The whole of the Great Hall was in awe every teacher and Headmaster Dumbledores wands were snatched out of their hands & went flying into the mans open palm. Wandless magic was exceedingly hard to do for simple things but a wandless mass disarming spell? To say a fair share of the student body was in awe would be understating it.
"My name is Edward Lucius Dire. First Blood and Lord of the House of Dire. Head of the Hogwarts House of Dire-Kin." Edwards eyes turned to the seven youths sorted into his House and his ferocious smirk became slightly less so. "The House of Dire-Kin never called the dormitories in the school home children. Follow the alpha" he said making a come hither motion and turned back out of the Great Hall despite protest from the teachers. "Be grateful I don't snap your wands for assaulting a Founding Lord of this school. As it stands, you shall all see a day in court for this. My Houses re-emergence is no coincidence you insignificant whelps."
The four kids sorted after Schrödinger, Daphne and Luna shared a look before glancing to the other three. It was obvious to them the three of them were a powerful dynamic in the making. Schrödinger was a bit nuts but acted like the perfect grounding wire to Lunas ditzyness and a spark to get Daphne seemingly off the ground from her stoic 'throne' of calm. "Its up to you brothers, sisters" Lilith said blushing slightly at the attention focused on her at her wording. "Professor McGonagall said our house is supposed to be like our family right? Dire-wolves and canines in general are all pack animals that stick together. That would make us like..."
"Brothers and sisters" the Ginty twins said nodding their heads in unison.
"What are you slow pokes waiting for?!"
Luna looked over and spotted a tiny version of Schrödinger, complete with fake cat ears and tail, riding shotgun on Edwards shoulder. An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. Morgana help them all if Schrödinger was always going to be this excitable. "I guess our all knowing and energetic cat boy of a leader has chosen for us gang. Lets get goin. Like Lilith said, Dire-wolves are pack animals and thats our emblem now. We stand and survive as a pack from now on."
Daphne nodded and ushering the others ahead of her & Luna. "Its going to fall on us to keep Schrödinger from doing anything and everything stupid won't it?" she asked Luna rhetorically. Her gut already said yes in response and she learned long ago to trust her gut when it gave her a strong feeling like this. Even if she would have to endure the ear grating sin of twin speak, Schrödinger would keep her on her toes and forever make things interesting at least.
Lun smiled an airy, dreamy little smile in response as she skipped beside Daphne. "Indeed but we couldn't ask for a better potential suitor than him don't you agree? He presents an interesting mask but we both have seen through it. He carries the heart of a wolf in his chest. You must have seen the way he was looking at the others and us. His gaze was so sharp yet protective under its veil of being a few sickles short of a galleon" she said with a sing song tone.
"Luna, don't take this the wrong way but I think all the pudding you ate went to your head" Daphne said with a sidelong glance as they caught up to the rest of the other Dire-Kin students. "Potential suitor? Sure hes an interesting puzzle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a mystery but I would hardly call him a potential suitor."
"Deny it all you want for now Daphne. The song the hat spoke of the wolf and his brides. You went first to the house table and when I went up the hat said I was the second bride which tells me you are the first. Process of elimination nixes the two Ginty boys, the song said wolf not wolves. Not to mention the other boy seems nice enough but able to lead a pack with two women of unmeasured potential in their own right? I hardly think not. Face it Greengrass" Lunas voice turned harsh for a second "it is Schrödinger and even if the hat was speaking in anything but vague notions I do not. Seer blood runs in my family and the moment that he helped me on the train I saw flashes of what I can only guess is the potential future. Most of them, all but one flash, include two blondes witches madly in love with each other as they are with a wizard who looked like an older version of Schrödinger with battle scars. Those two blonde witches- they are older versions of us and I am willing to bet my soul on that."
A/N: so thats a wrap on this chapter and slightly shorter than I would like but it works to my desire. Harry has an inclination to explore the third floor corridor to find and take whatever is hid there- wl the cat burgular make it an easy task?
On the note of Daphne and Luna, why dear Luna would she reveal that information to Daphne knowingly? Only I know and I leave you all to ponder. Til the next episode anyway.
On the note of the "Founding Lord" of Dire-Kin still be alive- is he who he says he is? If he is then how the hell is he still alive when the other founders wre not? Why does he not care about harry calling him sexmuffin?!
All answers, or most at least, will be revealed next time. Peace out.