Disclaimer: I own Harry Potter. Yes. Just like the world is flat. It's... It's not. So I don't own Harry Potter.

AN: Just to put it out there: there will be times when Harry will be hard, or overly formal, and of course a little imp. It's in his nature to be that; it's what he was taught. On with the show!

Semi-warning: There is a part in this chapter that might seem a little dark for an 11yr old. Fair warning.


Chapter 7: Meetings, Trolls, and greater bonds of Friendship

Harry Potter was confused. Not from a lesson or from a conversation with his friends but from Prof. McGonagall informing him that the headmaster wanted to see him. He had not gotten a detention. He had not been disrespectful. He hadn't even lost points! He frowned as he thought about it and let out a sigh as he got up from Ravenclaw table in the dining hall, looking at Hermione in bafflement.

"I'll see you in the common room, Hermione. The headmaster wants to see me for some reason." He then made his way to the head table where the professors were still eating. He stopped in front of his head of house but did not interrupt as he was in a conversation with Professor Vector. It was almost five minutes before Professor Vector noticed him and then another twenty seconds before the squeaky voice of Proffessor Flitwick was directed at him.

"Ah! My apologies, Mr. Potter, we were so enthralled with our own conversations we didn't even notice you. What can I do for you?" He gave a smile, turning his attention to one of his favorite first years.

"No apologies needed, sir. As for what you can do for me... well, I was recently told by Prof. McGonagall that the headmaster wanted to see me. I was wondering If I got a detention I didn't know about or lost points... or did anything, really, that would warrant a meeting with the headmaster." The half-goblin frowned and thought about it then shook his head.

"No, no. In the two weeks you've been here you have been a model student. Hmmm, interesting indeed." He stroked his chin softly and then was broken from his thoughts by Harry.

"Either way, Sir, he is the headmaster and I suppose I should see him. Would you join me, in capacity as my head of house?" He smiled softly and the small man nodded.

"Of course, of course! Is the meeting now?" A small nod had the professor sliding off his chair, under the table, and then coming up next to Harry. "Well then, Mr. Potter, let us go, shall we?" He nodded again and after a farewell to Prof. Vector they were off. They shared a nice conversation on the way and when they got to the gargoyle guarding the headmaster's office Filius cleared his throat.

"Blood-pops." Harry raised an eyebrow at the weird password, but shrugged it off. The gargoyle nodded and leaped aside, showing a spiral staircase that went up. Both professor and student went up said staircase, discussion resuming before they got to the door. Before they knocked, they heard an 'Enter' from the headmaster. They entered and said headmaster smiled.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, thank you for coming. Thank you for bringing young Mr. Potter here, Filius, you may go." He was surprised when the charms professor simply smiled and duplicated a chair for himself out of the one waiting for Harry.

"I am here in capacity as Mr. Potter's head of house. As there was no academic or disciplinary reason for him being here, he asked me to join him." The headmaster nodded, smiling genially at the two of them but on the inside he was rather incensed. Harry sat down and waited, as did his head of house.

"Lemon drop?" The headmaster offered, when neither accepted he took one of his own.

"Mr. Potter, first of all, how are you enjoying Hogwarts, your classes?" He got a large smile from Harry. That was a good sign.

"Oh it's great, sir. I am learning so much and making a lot of friends. I can't wait to learn more." The headmaster nodded with a smile.

"Excellent, Mr. Potter. Now, I ask you indulge my curiosity: where have you been these past ten years?" He smiled softly, that twinkle in his eyes helping to push his compulsion of trust towards the young boy. Said boy, still smiling, spoke with an innocence that was almost as startling as his answer.

"With all due respect, Sir, that is none of your business." His feet swung back and forth slowly as he spoke, Prof. Flitwick unsure if he should be surprised at Harry or the headmaster.

"I must insist, my boy. It will also help me know where to send messages should you befall injury here. While I do not hope to have to do that, it is best to be prepared you see." He smiled pushing more of his magic into that compulsion, his grandfatherly tone at its gentlest.

"You can insist all you want, sir, but where I live is not of your concern. If you wish to know, contact my guardians." He leaned back on his chair, taking out a small piece of muggle candy and eating it with a grin.

"Ah, very well then. Whom would I be contacting? I assume they are muggle guardians, seeing as I am your magical one." Harry still had that damnable smile on his face, and it was increasingly agitating the headmaster.

"My godfather, Sirius Orion Black is my magical guardian, Sir. He shares that position with my adopted father, Scorch Meglon Diablos, lord of the Demon house." He gave a small grin at the pale expression the headmaster had. "It's all legal as well, sir. The goblins, the ministry, and even the muggle government have records of this." He scooched to the end of the large chair before hopping off. To his credit, Dumbledore recovered quickly, and then spoke again.

"One last thing, Mr. Potter... before you go. You wouldn't happen to know what happened to Prof. Binns, would you?" He gave a soft smile, eyes twinkling merrily. He was slightly surprised when Harry frowned.

"Cuthbert Binns? Yes, I know exactly what happened to him. His soul was tethered to this realm, and he didn't know he was dead. I just... let him free. I'm sure he prefers paradise as opposed to teaching the same thing over... and over... and over again. I apologize if I caused any issues." He gave a small smile, honestly sorry. "Will that be all, headmaster?" He asked, still very polite.

"Yes... yes of course my boy. Have a good night, you as well, Filius." The small man nodded and as he got up his chair vanished. They both left and then Dumbledore looked to his side. "Severus?" The man in question stepped from the shadowy corner of the office, dropping the greater disillusionment charm on him. Shuddering softly as it left his body.

"I only caught a glimpse, Albus, and I did not go further. A powerful block was put there, far beyond the talent of such a young boy. No doubt his mutt of a godfather or his adopted father put it there. It would be... unwise to test further than a glimpse. If there is nothing else?" He questioned. He had to get some sleep after some potion checking.

"Just one more thing, Severus, ask amongst your older students if they have heard anything about Lord Diablos. That family is notoriously dark. We cannot take chances with Mr. Potter letting such a thing consume him." Severus nodded and left, inwardly grumbling about meddlesome old men. He would be doing no such thing. Poking around in things he was not fit to poke around in was not wise. He was a Slytherin, not some foolish Gryffindor. He would keep an eye on Potter, but he would do no more.

~RFC~

Harry sat next to Hermione in the Charms class they had with the Gryffindors. They were working on the levitation charm, and the two of them, as always, were discussing it in further detail. They had gained points being the first to accomplish it and were currently practicing it on items of varying sizes and shapes, Prof. Flitwick coming to them with a smile on his face.

"You two are such delights to have in my class, and of course my house. If it wouldn't trouble you, could you perhaps assist your fellow classmates?" They smiled and agreed, going around the class and helping those who were either struggling or just inches away from succeeding. Hermione eventually came up to one of the greater struggling students, one Ronald Weasley.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron exclaimed, swishing and flicking his wand. The feather twitched and he tried again, this time louder and with more swishing and flicking. He almost hit Hermione, but she was quick to move. She stopped him from doing it again and gave him a look before she spoke.

"No, Ronald, you're saying it wrong. It's Wing-GAR-dium Levi-O-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long. See, Like this." She took her wand and performed the spell perfectly. Smiling at him and gesturing for him to do it. He glared at her and huffed, trying it like she said mainly because the professor was looking at them. He did it right and it rose a few inches in the air before floating gently down.

"Ah! Well done Mr. Weasley. Two points to gryffindor, and five points to Ms. Granger for her assistance." She beamed proudly and went to help other classmates who were having issues. Before long, class ended and Harry and Hermione were walking to their next class when they overheard Ron talking.

"Ugh, know-it-all bookworm. I'm surprised she even has any friends!" He huffed, talking more to himself than to Seamus Finnigan who just shrugged as he was nibbling on a chocolate frog. In another lifetime, Hermione would be upset at this. She would cry her little heart out and wish for the comforting hug of her mother or father. That was not this Hermione, however. This Hermione was a Ravenclaw, and she had friends! They liked her for her. They didn't ask her for homework help only to ditch her when they got good grades. They didn't tease her about her teeth or her bushy hair. And to top it all off, she was friends with Harry Potter. He liked her for her! He had been boosting her confidence since their first day and they had become such great friends. She huffed and turned around, poking Ron in the chest after he stopped when he noticed she was in the way.

"You listen to me, you insufferable little cockroach! I have friends! They like me and we have fun together. Just because you can't get over the fact that I helped you when you were doing poorly doesn't mean you have the right to try and insult me! Let's see if I ever help you again you sorry little ingrate!" She turned on her heel, much like a certain Transfiguration professor, and stalked away. Harry was quick to follow, sending a glare that promised pain to Ron, but unable to act on it as he caught up with his friend.

~RFC~

The great hall was decorated lavishly for the Halloween feast. Floating jack-o-lanterns, bats flying around and not to mention the ghosts who were in their finest after-life attire. There were all kinds of different foods, but most were very Halloween and autumn-related: pumpkin pies to roast turkey with gravy and mashed potatoes. The students and faculty were all in the great hall enjoying this festive event, all except two. Harry Potter-Diablos and Hermione Granger were in a secluded classroom on the 3rd floor. They were sitting in a ritual circle and paying their respect to the dead and asking for safe times in the coming year.

Harry had introduced his friend to the concept of Samhain earlier in the month, and she had agreed to participate in it with him. They had a small two person feast after their respects were paid and enjoyed their time remembering old family members and friends that had passed on. Hermione had been appalled when she learned that Halloween was still as it was, especially in the wizarding world after the event of 11 years prior. Harry had felt that it was disrespectful to his parents, after ridding the world of Voldemort, but he then let her know that while it had upset him, the wizarding world was ass-backwards to begin with.

They were walking back to the great hall, perhaps for a little pudding or pie, when they both got wind of a rather... grotesque aroma. They looked at each other and then they felt a slight rumbling from down the hall. When they turned their heads they saw something that most definitely did NOT belong in a school. A mountain troll, as ugly as it was stupid, and as strong as it was ugly, was lumbering down towards them. It was about 13ft tall and 5ft wide, tugging behind it a club that was quite easily at least a quarter of a ton. It blinked and spotted them, growling softly and starting to move faster, the movement of the club behind it making a racket in the hallway.

While Harry was not concerned for the troll, he was concerned for his friend. He looked at her with a smile and grabbed her hand.

"Hermione?" She glanced at him, then at the troll. "Run." He gave her a serious look and then started tugging her down the hall with him. It didn't take long for her flight mode to kick in and she was running with Harry down the hall with a 13ft mountain troll following them. While they were quick, they were also young and the large steps of the creature had it catching up quickly. It stopped and let out a grunt as it hurled its club at the two little morsels. Harry looked back and barely managed to push Hermione away from the bulk of the object, but she was still caught and flung into one of the walls while Harry was nearly slammed against another. He coughed softly, a little blood coming from his lips as he got on his hands and knees, looking up at the approaching beast. It had decided to go towards the closer of the two children, which unfortunately was Hermione.

Harry looked over to her and saw her whimpering on the floor from her injuries, mostly bruises, but there was a bit of blood from the impact of her head on the wall. The sight of her blood made him angry, but the scent of it... made him lose control. As a wizard with demon blood in his veins, and with a demon as a father, blood was no new thing to him. Her blood, however, was different. It was the blood of a close friend, and to top it off... it was the blood of the innocent, the virginal. To a demon that was sacred, it held powerful magical properties. To see it wasted on the floor, as well as it meaning she was hurt... that was the last mistake this beast ever made.

~RFC~

The troll was getting closer to the small, tasty snack when it heard a heavy snarl. It blinked and turned after it heard a second snarl on top of it. It moved away from the scene unfolding before it, fear registering in its tiny brain. The other small thing it had hit was standing and was covered in red and black fire. That was scary, but next to it was something that made the troll want to run and never eat again. A demon hound stood there, snarling and hissing in anger as it started walking closer, body and eyes on fire, radiating fear and pain in waves. The troll registered one last thing before it knew nothing but pain, and that was the smaller of the two terrifying creatures' otherworldly voice.

"Belial." The creature snarled. "Kill." And then there was pain. Nothing but pain.

~RFC~

As his faithful familiar tore into the troll like a hot knife through butter, Harry moved over to his injured friend and picked her up. He shielded her from the grisly sight of a demon hound tearing into a troll, and he silenced it for good measure. He checked her over for injuries, and when he found one he used the magical properties of her blood to heal her. He was already rapidly healing so he didn't bother to do the same to himself. He helped her to her feet and gave her a nice, firm hug, whispering.

"Hermione, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere else? Should I take you to Madam Pomfrey?" He got no answer, save for a tighter hug and a sniffle that lead to silent sobs from the young girl. He frowned and glared at the troll, but saw there was nothing to glare at but a burnt patch of blood. He nodded to himself and then, with his friend firmly attached to him, began walking to the hospital ward. He was no expert in healing, so he wanted to make sure she was alright. Had they stayed 5 minutes extra, they would have had to deal with the professors. Thankfully everything had been taken care of; though he had a feeling he would be getting another meeting with the headmaster soon.

~RFC~

Hermione had checked out fine. It seemed he healed all of her injuries, but she had not moved from his side in the next few days. She was a lot more clingy than normal, but he saw no problem with that. He liked her company. He did notice, after a few more days, that he felt the same mutual connection to her. He frowned softly and gave her a soft hug that next Saturday afternoon.

"Hermione, do you trust me?" She looked at him as if he had asked her if she was a girl, and nodded. He smiled at her and then in a flash of dark silver flames they were gone from the corner of the library they had been secluded in. When they re-appeared Hermione yelped in surprise and broke away from Harry. She was not scared, but very caught off guard.

"W-What was that?! H-How long have you been able to do that? I-Is it because you... y-you are a demon? I-I didn't believe it before... O-Oh my god! Y-You're a demon! Y-You... w-what?" She was frantic and went over to the window as if to open it for some fresh air, but she stopped when she saw the earth staring back at her. She looked at him with an even wider look of surprise and put her hand over her mouth. He was about to speak when his father, Scorch, came into the room.

"Harrison? What brings you here... is everything alright at school?" While he was an imposing man, who barely smiled except for those who truly knew him, he was a caring father. He gave a small smile when his son hugged him and stroked his head softly. "What is it my son? Oh... and who is this?" He looked at Hermione with a small smile and a raised eyebrow. "I do believe you are a few years too early my child." Harry huffed and gently blushed, something Hermione had rarely, if ever, seen him do.

"Dad! It's not like that... I just, well. Dad, this is Hermione. She is my very best friend. We are schoolmates." He turned to Hermione. "Hermione, this is my dad... Scorch Diablos." She lowered her hand from her mouth, and then out of fear (or respect, Harry didn't know) she gave a low bow and spoke gently.

"A-A pleasure to meet you... L-Lord Diablos." She was startled by the deep belly laugh from the large man and then, as if on auto-pilot, made her way to Harry to embrace her friend. He gave her a soothing squeeze to her hand and looked up at his father.

"We had an... incident at school about a week ago, dad. Since then we've been... really close. Not like THAT!" He huffed when he saw his dad start to speak, catching him smirking. "I mean... It doesn't bother me, but does it mean anything?"

The large man hummed and waved his hand, two seats appearing, one for him and the other for the children basically attached at the hip.

"Yes, it means something, my son. I noticed a small change when I entered, but I wanted you to tell me. You have an un-acknowledged life-debt between you and your friend. Whatever you did, you did to save her life. You did it without caring about any consequences, and thus she owes you her life. Right now it is in its weaker stage, but if you do not acknowledge it, it will get more severe. All you must do is speak your acknowledgement, in the old ways." Harry had been listening, as well as Hermione, but unlike her, he was not confused by his father's final words. He nodded and then cleared his throat.

"I, Harrison James Potter-Diablos, do accept that one Hermione Jane Granger owes me a life debt." He looked at his friend who was compelled to look at him. "Do you, Hermione Jane Granger accept this?" She bit her lip, not about to say no, but she didn't know what to say. She was thankfully saved by the other occupant of the room.

"Reply with your name as he did, and accept. That is all you need do, Ms. Granger." She nodded, still looking at Harry before she spoke, timidly.

"I, Hermione Jane Granger, do accept that I owe one Harrison James Potter-Diablos a life debt." There was a small flash of light and then she sighed as the almost overwhelming desire to be next to Harry diminished. She smiled softly and gave him a hug for good measure before sitting beside him.

"I-I... I don't feel like I need to be around Harry all the time now." She yelped softly at her words. "N-Not that I don't want to be around him at all! I-It's just that, w-well... y-you know!" She blushed along with Harry, both of them still red as Scorch laughed heartily.

"Now that is out of the way, how about we have some lunch, hmm? Or must you return to school?" Harry shrugged softly and looked over at his friend.

"I-I suppose we can stay for lunch, if we are not interrupting anything, sir." Scorch laughed softly and shook his head.

"Not at all! I have missed my son, and I would love to hear about his schooling." With that the three spent the rest of the afternoon together. Enjoying lunch and each other's company, Sirius even making an appearance and introducing himself to the young lady. Harry, of course, was mercilessly teased by his father and godfather, and he was sure he and Hermione would have permanent blushes after this. All the while the four were unaware of how much chaos the two youngsters had caused by simply leaving Hogwarts. They would find out later, but right now they were having a good end to a puzzling day, and that's what was important.


AN: Sorry again, if that part with the dog was a bit much. I didn't think it was, but it's possible one of my readers did. You have to remember: while still a child, he is also a demon. I apologize if this turns anyone off to the story.

AN2: That's chapter 7. I hope it's enjoyable. I know it is shorter than the previous chapter, by at least a couple thousand words, but it is what it is. Next time we have more fun with our two favorite students, and then some holiday shenanigans. I will probably make this story not just his first year, but a few years. Either way, read, review, enjoy!