Chapter Nine: Let's Make a List of all the Things the World has put you Through

Friday afternoon finally rolled around, and about thirty Slytherins turned out to the Quidditch pitch for tryouts. Marcus had them split into groups according to their position. Crabbe and Goyle joined a few other boys and Millicent in the Beater section, Draco and Tracey joined Miles with the Chasers, and Harry stood next to Terrence.

Tryouts consisted of mostly pickup games and running drills against each other. It was right after the start of dinner when Marcus released them to the locker rooms to change.

"Results will be listed on the bulletin board!" he called as the Slytherins dispersed. The group that tried out all headed to dinner together, and all sat with each other at the end of the Slytherin table closest to the Head Table. Snape looked down at them, smirking. Harry sat next to Terrence and a sixth year named Dorian Callahan who had tried out for Chaser.

"So, who do you say made Beater?" Dorian asked across the table to Mason Laurel, a third year girl who had tried out for Keeper.

"Jonah and Matt, obviously. Crabbe and Goyle were good, and they'll probably be shoo-ins next year after Jonah and Matt graduate, but for this year…" Mason paused. "Who do you think this year's Chasers are?"

"I don't care as long as they can work together," Dorian replied. "So, which Seeker is your money on?"

"Well, Potter is naturally gifted, but Terrence has the advantage of experience. They're pretty equal, but Flint will probably pick Potter and have Terrence help him get that experience," Mason replied. She looked over to Harry. "So, which one of you is the better Seeker?"

Terrence and Harry looked at each other, then back at Mason, and shrugged.

"Hot damn, you two are a lot of help," Dorian muttered, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

A few minutes after Harry finished his dessert, Susan made her way over to the table with Hannah and Megan. Sensing the unspoken words, Harry and Draco stood up and followed the Hufflepuffs from the Hall as they were joined by Blaise and Daphne. They found their portrait-less classroom, and settled down as Susan handed Harry a letter.

When you asked about the laws on child neglect, I was sickened. There can only be one real reason for you asking about that. Child neglect is a crime punishable by Azkaban. And if your magical guardian was aware of it, they can be sentenced.

I cannot determine if the Dursleys are your rightful caretakers, as your parents' will was sealed. You or a family member can unseal the will, but only if you are a legal adult. I will work to find out who is responsible for the sealing of their will. I will be getting in contact with Lisa Sullivan, who is in charge of the Department of Child Services, a sub-department of the DMLE. I will forward her letters to my niece who can give them to you until we can sort out your little mail problem. It's inconvenient, but it'll have to do.

Mental blocks are absolutely illegal. Leaving magical blocks on someone over the age of eleven is illegal. Whoever blocked you is treading a highly dangerous path.

I have heard that you have befriended Draco Malfoy. I would suggest you get in contact with his parents, as they hold a lot of influence in not only the Board of Governors, but the Ministry as well. They could most likely get you out of Hogwarts on a weekend to see a specialist about your blocks.

Madame Amelia Bones

Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement

Harry groaned, and dropped his head to the desk. The rest of the conspirators exchanged looks.

"That bad, huh?" Megan asked, sitting down in the seat next to him.

"There is someone out there willing to cross lines into illegality to make me a bad student and a poor wizard," Harry replied, groaning. Blaise hesitantly put his hand on Harry's back. Harry stiffened for a moment, but accepted the physical contact. "I am wondering what the universe has against me." He looked up a Draco. "She also told me to try getting into contact with your parents."

Draco nodded, frowning and looking thoughtful. "They hold a lot of political clout. They can help."

"You can start by replying to Madame Bones, and then you can open lines of communication with Lord and Lady Malfoy," Daphne commanded. "Now write."

Harry picked up his quill.

I am very disturbed that someone is willing to cross lines into illegality to make me a bad student and a poor wizard. Personally, I am wondering what else I'm going to find out. I appreciate any help you can give.

Harry Potter

Harry sighed, and sealed that letter for Susan to send. Then, he started penning another letter.

Dear Lord and Lady Malfoy,

My name is Harry Potter. I am a Slytherin first year, along with your son. I have been made aware of some problems, including a mail redirection charm tied to me. I would appreciate if you would send any letters through Draco, because I worry that if you were to send them directly to me I would not receive them.

While the mail redirection charm was the first problem I was made aware of, I learned of the fact that I have unnatural mental and magical blocks. As I am over the age of eleven, both are illegal. It has been suggested to me that you have the necessary clout within the Hogwarts Board of Governors that you could find a way for me to leave school on a weekend to see a specialist about removing them. I am also being treated by Madame Pomfrey for malnutrition, but when I saw her she said she could do nothing about the blocks. I worry for my grades as a student and my ability as a wizard with these blocks in place.

I was also made aware of the fact that my parents' will was sealed. I have also recently been made aware of how I am Draco's cousin through the Black family, which makes Lady Malfoy my cousin as well. As my father was the son of Dorea Black, you, Lady Malfoy, as his cousin, could unseal their will. I cannot ask you to do this as of yet, as I do not know you. I do know, however, that most likely the only reason I was placed with my mother's muggle sister was because their will was not read.

On a much happier note, your son Draco has been a wonderful friend and ally. He is intelligent, cunning, resourceful, and very much a true Slytherin. His help has been irreplaceable.

I hope you are both well,

Harry Potter

Harry sealed that letter, too, and gave it to Draco. Draco took it, and slipped it into his robes.

The conspirators once again headed down to their dorms together.

"It's not quite curfew yet, so we could stop by the kitchens for a butterbeer…" Hannah suggested, blushing.

"What's a butterbeer?" Harry asked, staring at Hannah with a rather confused look on his face.

"Okay, that settles it, come on, we're going," Draco said, practically dragging Harry in pursuit of the Hufflepuff girls.

"So you are not startled and act like a fool, creatures called house elves work in the kitchens and clean the school. They are bonded to a master, who shares their magical energy with them, and in return, the elves take care of their master. Without a bond, a house elf will eventually wither and die," Daphne said, and Harry blinked and nodded.

They eventually came to a stop in front of a painting of a fruit basket.

Susan reached up and tickled the pear.

Wait, what… Harry thought magic required some crazy things, but…

The painting swung open, revealing a large room filled with little creatures that had huge ears. One of them noticed them, and then they were swarmed by the little creatures.

"We'd just like some butterbeer!" Susan called out over the horde, and instantly each one of them was being offered a bottle of a golden liquid. They found a corner of the kitchen with a little table, and they sat down.

"To new, delicious discoveries," Susan said, holding up her open bottle. Everyone held theirs up and clinked them together before taking a drink.

It was the best thing Harry had ever tasted. He pulled the mouth of the bottle from his lips and stared down at the golden-amber substance of deliciousness.

It was very delicious. Harry loved the deliciousness.

"This is the nectar of the gods," Harry said, still staring at the delicious. The others chuckled.

"It is amazing, isn't it," Megan said. "I acted like that the first time I had some, too."

"I think we all acted like that the first time we tasted it," Blaise said.

"To butterbeer!" Draco said, and they toasted again.

They had a couple butterbeers each before leaving the kitchens. Harry, Draco, Blaise, and Daphne enjoyed the walk down to their common room. They were pleasantly warm and full, and took their time to talk to a few of the portraits. They entered the common room to see the rest of their yearmates waiting.

"What were you lot up to?" Theo asked, hands on his hips.

"We introduced Harry to butterbeer," Blaise replied, smirking.

"Is that why you left the Hall?" Pansy asked, arms crossed. Draco swallowed and looked at her in a scared kind of fashion.

"We know there's something up with you lot, and we want in. What is it you're doing with the Hufflepuffs?" Tracey asked. Draco, Blaise, Daphne, and Harry shared a look. They shared multiple looks that took a few seconds of time until Draco embraced the Gryffindor in him.

"Working out Harry's problems," Draco replied.

"I've been writing letters to Madame Bones and Susan's been sending them to get around the mail charm on me," Harry added. The others nodded.

"Has it been working?" Pansy asked, and they nodded.

"So, how did you like the butterbeer?" Theo asked, slinging his arm around Harry's shoulders.

"It was delicious," Harry replied.

"Well, we should get to bed so we can study effectively tomorrow," Daphne said. "Come on, off to bed you lot." She pushed the boys towards their dorms while the girls headed off to theirs. The six boys made their way down the stairs to their dorm. Draco hogged the shower while the other boys took shorter showers.

"Hey, why do you take so long in the shower?" Crabbe asked, looking up from his exploding snap game with Goyle.

"So my hair doesn't turn out like Professor Snape's," Draco replied, flopping onto his bed. "Speaking of hair, someone in here could do with a little gel."

"I've tried," Harry protested. "It doesn't do anything."

"You've obviously never tried the stuff Draco uses," Theo replied, snorting. "That stuff is serious."

"You can try some of it on Monday," Draco offered.

"And if that doesn't work, then you can grow it out a bit so it looks less like a bird's nest and more like what one of my brothers says is the 'I-just-had-great-sex-and-you-missed-out' look. Although, really, why?" Blaise replied.

"My hair hasn't ever grown, except for that one time…" Harry frowned.

"Wait, that's not natural," Theo said, quitting the horrified gagging he was doing, and Blaise and Draco frowned. "Not even for wizards."

"Well, let's add that to the list," Harry replied, groaning and pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill.

The parchment read:

Mail charm

Magical Blocks

Mental Blocks

Malnutrition

Uneducated about magic

And he added:

Hair

He rolled up the parchment and put it back in his desk.

"You have an actual list of that stuff," Theo said, pointing at it rather indredulously. Harry nodded.

"Merlin's beard," Blaise muttered.

"Merlin's beard is right," Draco replied.

Disclaimer: Uh I wasn't even born yet in 1998, which is when the first Harry Potter book came out so no definitely don't own it.

So yeah, that happened. Excuses only satisfy the excuser, so... Sorry about that. I'll try to be better. Anyways in case you didn't read the AN in the first chapter, I'll tell you now that all the chapter titles are lyrics from songs. So, go have fun figuring out what songs power my muse. Because siriusly, music powers my muse.

Question: Rock or Country?

Next Time: Letter exchange, Quidditch talk, and the door won't open.