A/N: Ahhh, it's good to be back. So how did you all like the last chapter? Probably hated my guts, right? Well here's the next installment!
DISCLAIMER: In the first installment, folks!
WARNING: Ditto!
HPZLBHPZLBHPZLBHP
Lucius stood in front of Number 4 Privet Drive in elegant Muggle clothing, sneering at the plain, painted door. The Adopted child of the Diggories had it right; these Muggles were the most despicable he'd come across in all of his years. He squared his shoulders and knocked on the door with his silver-headed cane. Lucius wouldn't dare touch that door with his clean hands.
"Hello- Who on earth are you?"
"My name is Lucius Malfoy. May I come in, Madame?"
"Why, yes of course. What social circle are you from?"
"The kind you, Madame, do not have the status to stand with." He said with his favorite, 'I know I am better than you, you lowly piece of scum, now apologize', tone. She stammered for a bit as he swept past her into the squeaky-clean house. The Childe's magic was layered into the house, keeping it as clean as was magically possible. The wood was so shiny that he could have used it as a mirror if he chose to. "Did you know that Harry is no longer under your care?"
"Where is that foolish child? He was supposed to do all the chores before Dudley's twelfth birthday." She sniffed, sticking her rather thin nose straight into the air, flaring her horse-like nostrils at him. Managing not to grimace at the sight before him, he continued on doggedly.
"He is also the Heir to several fortunes once he comes of age. You are not allowed a single cent of it, Madame. Evenings disinterest to you." He bowed slightly and opened the door with a casual wave of his hand.
"You FREAK! Get out of my HOUSE!" Dursely Sr. bellowed, his face turning a strange shade of puce.
"I was on my way out, good sir." He stepped forward and rapped the knuckles of the fist that was headed for him with his black bog cane, both of them connecting with a resounding crack. Dursley Sr. howled, cradling his bloody fist to his chest. "If you wish to keep that fist, I suggest you hold it where it is, Messer Dursley." Silver eyes flashed with the promise of pain to be delivered should he be crossed again. "I know what you have done, and I will not forgive you for it." At this point both Dursleys paled to almost white as he resoundingly shut the door in their faces. In his heart, however, he sorely wished to curse them until this house, and the people inside it, was burnt to ashes.
-Platform 9 and 3/4; Second Year- -PoV-
Harry grinned as Amos dropped Cedric, Zack and himself off at Platform 9 and 3/4. That summer had been the best he'd ever had. Zack rolled his expressive violet eyes and pulled Harry towards the train as he wished Amos goodbye.
"Harry-Zack! Bring him here!- I need to tell you something." Zack smiled sheepishly and let go of Harry's arm. "It's just a feeling, son, but be- Harry?" The moment after he said 'son', Harry felt an overwhelming urge to cry, because it felt like he belonged, if only for a few short seconds. "There, there, Harry. It's alright." He hesitantly reached for Amos and the man opened his arms. Burying his face against the warm velvet, Harry hiccupped and inhaled the scent of the man who treated him like his own. "Harry?" He nodded into Amos's shoulder, still wrapped in warmth. "I want you to be careful this year."
"O-Okay. I'm sorry about getting your robes all wet..." Amos ruffled his hair and fixed Harry's face with a wave of his wand. He'd gotten rid of his glasses over the summer as soon as he had embarrassingly bumped into a wall when he couldn't find his glasses on his nightstand.
"Don't apologize; it is most unSlytherin." Draco's drawling tone had him laughing as Zack scooped him up and flung him over his shoulder. "Zackary..."
"Blaise told it right the first time,'Daft, alright. It put two Lions in the Snakes' den.' No, I won't put Harry down."
-PoV-
"Zack, put Harry down. He's giggling like a maniac." Hermione admonished as Zack stepped into the compartment with her, Harry still slung over his shoulder.
"Sorry, Harry." Green eyes rolled at his apparent idiocy then Harry smiled softly.
"Idiot Puppy."
"Foolish Lion."
"Will the pair of you quit? How was your Adoption Ceremony?" Harry stiffened as he saw Weasley standing in the doorway of their compartment.
"Granger. You're wanted at the front."
"Weasley, I can SMELL lies. Get out." Zack grumbled, standing to block the idiot Gryff from looking at Harry or Hermione. The red-head sneered at him and he sneered right back before smiling brightly at Harry. Said friend rolled his gorgeous green eyes and motioned that he close the compartment, which he did with relish.
"So?"
"Umm... It was pretty simple. It's wonderful, 'Mione."
"I knew there was something wrong with Harry's Muggles when I saw them..." Zack grumbled, handing Harry a roast beef sandwich from their enchanted picnic basket. "You want one, 'Mione?" He asked as she wistfully eyed the sandwich.
"Oh, may I?"
"Course. Go ahead, take your pick. Darylyn packed quite a bit."
They spent the train ride playing Exploding Snap with the rest of the Moonlighters when they showed up.
"Snap!" A tentative knock had Harry answering it. Once open, it revealed a timid, brown-haired, boy. "And you are?"
"Hello, Neville! Can he join us, Zack?" Hermione greeted Neville cheerfully as though she knew him.
"... Blaise, Draco?"
"Another, Zackary? Do you not have enough to manage as is? We cannot take in all the strays of Hogwarts."
"Hey, that's not fair, Drake... He's a Pureblood too, you snoot." Harry argued, using his gorgeous green-eyed puppy look as a weapon against Draco's high-handedness.
"You- Crap. He used the puppy look."
"Come right on in." Harry's warm welcome appeared to relax Neville, as he sat right next to Harry. "So, what's your favorite class?"
"... Her... Herbology?"
"It either is or isn't, Neville. Is it?"
"Yeah, it is." The bold statement made Harry smile.
"You owe me, Draco." The innocent smile turned straight evil as he looked at Draco. Draco sneered then sighed, handing over his favorite quill. "Thank you."
-PoV-
"Umm, what was that all about?" Neville quietly asked him as the train ride slowed and they were putting on their robes.
"The quill? Oh, Draco made a, mind you it was stupid, bet with me saying that you didn't belong to Gryffindor. The quill was the price if I was right, which I knew I would be." Harry answered, smiling at Neville. The boy was mightily shy, worse than him, and was very sweet. Zack had taken Neville under his wing almost immediately.
"You-You're good at Potions, right?"
"Yes. Even if it is Professor Snape breathing down my neck." He giggled, rolling his eyes at Zack when he made a creeper motion. "Too bad we can't sit at each other's House tables. 'Mione was right about you."
"Hermione Granger, Nev." Zack explained as the horseless carriages trotted off towards the castle, resettling Harry as a bump almost knocked him off of Zack's lap.
"Erm... Do you sit like that all the time?" They looked at each other and laughed.
"'Course we do. There's nothin' wrong with it."
"Other Gryffindors don't sit like that, even if they're dating." Zack snorted, trying to contain his laughter.
"Nev, we aren't Gryffs. We're Slytherins and we go by a whole different set of rules. You understand?" Harry spoke to reassure the wide-eyed Gryff.
"We also do this at home, in case you're wondering, Nev. It really isn't that big of a deal."
The Welcoming Feast was the same as always... Noisy Gryffs, chattering Ravens, and laughing 'Puffs. The Slytherins were the quietest, of course, conversing in civil tones to each other regardless of year.
"Your Adoption ceremony didn't even make it to the Daily Prophet and I find this out now? How very Slytherin of you, Harry." Draco offered while cutting his Wellington. "Disgusting Gryffs; snogging while eating is despicable." Sure enough, some obvious fifth-years were going nuts two tables over.
"Eww... That's just plain nasty." Blaise complained.
"Dude, duh." Zack butted in, then froze as the doors to the Great Hall slammed open. "Mum?" The lanky brunette man standing in the center of the Hall turned when he heard Zack's voice.
"Cub?"
Ending A/N: Mwahahaha! Now I'm letting loose teh plunnies of WAR! Rawr!
P.S. Surprise ending, right?
