Chapter 9
Friends Close, Enemies Closer

Harry glared at his stalker distrustfully. "Honored. Do you mind? I'm a little busy."

"That's alright," Adon smiled cheerfully, hands tucked in his pockets and eying Harry up and down interestedly. His grin grew even wider, if it were at all possible, and Harry felt slightly put out. "I just wanted a few minutes of your time."

"Oh, alright," Harry shrugged, glowering. He allowed the boy-man to accompany him down the hallways, ignoring the students' curious stares.

"You're a good friend of Rune's?" Adon asked. He eyed Harry sideways, eyes twinkling in a very Dumbledore-ish fashion. "He has good taste."

Flushing, Harry shrugged. "He's usually with Rayn or Romulus. He's an acquaintance."

"Ah."

"Is this about him?" Harry said abruptly. "Did something happen?"

The boy-man beamed. "No, no. I just like to keep track of the people he associates with."

"Oh... That's kind of you."

"It's my duty as older brother."

"You're his brother?" Harry frowned, regarding him again. So far, all the Blacks he had met looked alike, so it was difficult telling immediate family relations. "He hasn't mentioned a brother."

"Really?" Adon hummed thoughtfully, then abruptly, "Well, it was nice to meet you and nice going with-" He then mimicked hitting an invisible person with his elbow. He chuckled, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Made my day. Well, see you!"

"Ah-" Harry blinked after his rapidly disappearing figure, startled and - if he was honest - disappointed. "Nice to meet you too."


News of Tom's accident reached everyone's ears by lunch, though no one seemed to know of Harry's involvement. The rumors seemed to indicate that people thought Adon, whom Harry had found out from overhearing a conversation was the "Prince" of Slytherin, had punched Tom for stealing away Walburga. By the smug expression on the girl's face, she seemed to be enjoying this rumor and did nothing to dissuade the students' assumptions.

Though he wasn't particularly happy that the girl had taken advantage of the situation, Harry wasn't about to go revealing what really happened to anyone. One, he didn't need all that attention, and two, Adon was actually quite happy to let people believe he'd punched Tom. Harry may not have liked Walburga Black, but Adonis "Adon" Black had turned out to be a very likable character once he got to know him.

"So Horace Slughorn usually teaches Potions? What about Professor Black?" asked Harry, confused, as he worked on a Potions essay that was due by the end of the week.

"He's substituting for a while," replied Rudo absently. "Professor Slughorn will be gone, who knows how long and why. He's also head of Slytherin."

"Really? Interesting," Harry replied. They worked in silence for a while, occasionally exchanging glances as Helga cursed. Harry had been amused to find out just how utterly hopeless she was at Potions, even with Professor Black's careful tutelage, which was the reason she was taking sixth year Potions even though she was a seventh year. Because of Professor Black's favoritism of Harry, Rudo had switched with Helga so that she would be getting the same amount of help from him, though so far it wasn't helping. It was almost as amusing as watching Raven fumble around with Transfiguration, though Harry wasn't in her class for which he was thankful.

"You have to report to detention tonight, right?" Helga asked, nudging Harry slightly, eyebrows furrowed as she glowered at her essay.

Harry groaned. "I'd forgotten."

"Chin up, Harry," Rudo snorted. "Professor Dumbledore likes you. So I wouldn't worry about it. He'll probably try to stuff you full of sweets, though."

"Well, I think I'm done," Harry stretched, he allowed Helga to reach over and take his essay as he lay back and closed his eyes.

"You expect people to be able to read this!" Helga cried in horrified awe. She squinted at the words on the parchment. "Mancake?"

Rudo spluttered, laughing hysterically as Harry sat up and tore the essay from her. "That obviously says mandrake! How did you get mancake!"

"What are you three doing?" Adonis demanded as he dropped down to sit between Harry and Helga. "Mancakes and mandrakes, the audacity." He looked over Helga's shoulder and squinted at Harry's essay. "Oh, I see. It's some sort of secret code, right?"

"Why are you even bothering to look at it if you can't read it?" Harry demanded.

"Dearest Helga needs all the help she can get," Rudo snorted, flicking through his own Potions book.

Helga ignored them and continued to squint at Harry's essay, continuously returning to her own essay and crossing out various words, sometimes even entire paragraphs. The three boys grinned at each other, bemused. Harry huffed, a small smile on his face, thinking about how utterly normal this all seemed. Helga was a lot like Ron most of the time, though she was utterly brilliant and extremely beautiful, her intelligence on par with Hermione's. She was as slippery as a snake and knew how to blend in to her surroundings, she was quite easy to get along with and Harry found himself quickly becoming absolutely enamored with her wit. She was actually like a female Adonis, who was just as handsome as she was beautiful, and truly the idol image of Slytherin House.

It really was no wonder the two were together, Harry thought fondly, smiling over at the two. Adonis was leaning against Helga's side, his chin resting on her shoulder as he pointed out passages in Harry's essay and then to something in hers. The two had taken to accompanying Harry around, one on either side of him as Ron and Hermione often did, and it made being stuck in the past a lot more bearable. He understood now why the Slytherins allowed Helga her oddities, she was technically the "Princess" of Slytherin House. It was actually quite amusing to watch her go up against Walburga while knowing that.

Ah, Walburga. The girl had at first been smug about the rumors that had begun to spread throughout the school. Until Harry and Helga had decided to retaliate by spreading their own rumor, at least. It helped that Tom seemed to want nothing to do with the Black heiress anymore and more often than not was heard snapping at her for her sheer stupidity.

There was a rumor that Walburga and Adonis were engaged to be married, but Adon explained that that was a rumor based on a misinterpreted fact. Adonis' middle name was Orion, a common Black name, and his youngest brother's first name was also Orion. It was the youngest Orion who was engaged to marry Walburga, to "keep the fortune in the family". Adonis' own engagement to Helga Weasley was actually a well known fact among the Pureblood families. Helga was wealthy and so was Adonis, it was a "good match".

At least they're in love, Harry thought fondly.

"Bloody hell, Harry," Adon grumbled as he tilted Harry's essay this way and that. "Does this say fat cow?"

Harry pouted at him and took the parchment back. He squinted at the words Adonis was pointing at. "Heh heh, that does say fat cow!" He really should stop thinking bad things about Walburga Black while doing his homework.


Tom looked up as he heard screaming coming from the path leading to the lake. He raised an eyebrow as Adonis Black stalked down the path, Harry thrown over his shoulder, and being followed by Helga who was clutching her stomach in laughter and Rudo who looked as though he wished he were elsewhere.

Harry was shrieking and kicking his legs about wildly. "You wouldn't dare!"

Both eyebrows shot up and Tom gaped as Harry was thrown into the lake, clothes and all. Harry sputtered and wrapped his arms about himself as he shivered. Erian, who was sitting beside him, began giggling hysterically. Rodolphus, on Erian's other side, merely rolled his eyes and returned his attention to their Charms project.

"T-that's c-cold!" Harry growled, though he didn't look very threatening. Rather, he looked like a drowned cat. The image was very appealing... Tom shook his head furiously.

Helga smiled at him happily. "That's what you get for calling me a fat cow!"

Even Rodolphus raised his eyebrows at that.

Harry spluttered. "I didn't call you a fat cow. That was a complete misunderstanding!" Tom wondered if anyone else noticed the sudden gleam in Harry's eyes, he guessed not as the boy suddenly charged forward and tackled Adonis into the lake, managing to soak Helga and Rudo with the resulting splash. Harry waded out of the water, coughing and brushing hair out of his face.

Adonis had diverted his attention to Helga, who was dripping wet with her clothing sticking closely to her body. Tom could see why he was distracted, but he rather liked looking at Harry's similarly drenched form. Helga suddenly squeaked and ran ahead of Harry with Adonis hot on her trail. Rudo was spelling his clothing dry with a long suffering look on his face, probably wondering why he'd even followed the trio down to the lake.

"I'm so happy that Harry's fitting in," Erian chirped happily. Rodolphus hummed, agreeing merely for the sake of agreeing, as he often did with Erian.

Tom couldn't help but wonder how Harry had managed to get into Adonis' and Helga's good graces. Though he, himself, considered Helga his friend, the girl was actually very picky about who she associated with, same as Adonis. As many students wished to be considered their friends, due to their influence and current positions, the two didn't trust easily.

"You three working on a project too, eh?" Helga asked as she joined them, thankfully dry. "What's this for?"

"We're working on our Charms project," Erian replied, smiling at her like a curious cat. Helga was particularly fond of Erian, Tom knew, because of his good nature and his inability to judge people. It was actually the same thing that had drawn Tom to Erian in the first place and likely what Rodolphus loved most about him.

"I'm late!" Harry cried suddenly. "Dumbledore's going to kill me!" He gave a swift kick to the back of Adonis' leg, sending the boy toppling forward, and then ran back up the bath towards the castle.

Helga giggled. "I guess he managed to get the last word in."

"Did he really call you a fat cow?" Erian asked wonderingly, eyes wide and worried.

"Oh, no," Helga shook away his worry. "See, his mind has a habit of wondering off when he's studying and writing essays. So instead of writing about the properties of the mandrake root, he was writing about what he thought about Walburga. Quite amusing, really."

Adonis was rubbing the back of his leg as he took a seat next to Helga. She turned and snuggled against his side, "Where did Rudo go?"

"Harry forgot his bag," Adonis chuckled. "The boy knows how to fight." He threw Tom an amused glance and was rewarded with a glowering scowl. Leo had not been very happy when he learned just how it was Tom had broken his nose and had refused to do anything beyond straightening it out so there was still a bruise around Tom's nose and his left cheek. "Come on, love. Let's leave the little unicorns to their work."

Helga snorted. "The only one resembling a unicorn here is Erian." The two wondered back up the path with Adonis' arm wrapped around Helga's waist. Tom couldn't help the twinge of envy he felt at watching them, turning around only to scowl even more as he saw Erian cuddling against Rodolphus' side. This is absurd, he thought, I'm surrounded.


"Cutting it mighty close, aren't you?" Dumbledore said as Harry burst into his classroom at exactly seven. Harry held up a hand as he panted, breathing heavily as he dragged his bag across the floor and took a seat at the front. Dumbledore shook his head, unable to keep his stern facade and finally smiling. He waited for the boy to catch his breath before speaking. "We haven't had a change to talk lately. How are classes going?"

"Classes are fine," Harry replied sincerely. "It's actually easier than I thought. Most of the work we're learning right now I actually learned in third year. Except in Potions, which seems to be ahead instead of behind."

"I'm more worried about Defense class," Dumbledore said, gazing at Harry over his spectacles. "Galatea says you seem bored with her class."

"I meant no offense, Professor," Harry began awkwardly. "I've always been better at that class than others. Plus, she spends so much time telling us that she'll be gone 'any day now'. Even Helga falls asleep in that class."

The man chuckled lightly. "It's understandable. When she first agreed to the job, the headmaster assured her that it would only be until we managed to find a more suitable replacement. The headmaster, of course, has forgotten and it seems her own mind is beginning to go as well." He shook his head fondly.

Harry only managed a crooked smile, thinking this was possibly the worst time to have someone who didn't know what they were doing teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. "Well, aside from that I have to rewrite my Potions essay." He passed said essay over for the man to look over.

"Indeed," the man chuckled, eyebrows raised. "I don't believe Octavius would appreciate it. Though I've heard he's grown especially fond of you."

"He's brilliant!" Harry exclaimed. It was true, the Potions substitute did show Harry favoritism, and he always took the time to answer Harry's questions. If it weren't for him, Harry would be failing Potions spectacularly.

"How about your lessons with Mister Delacour?"

"Oh," Harry shrugged. "He's ignoring me." Harry was becoming frustrated by this as well. Only the previous day the Veela had told him they were going into the next "phase" of the "training" and now the Veela was ignoring him. It was confusing.

Dumbledore seemed amused by this, but remained silent on the subject, knowing the boy would figure it out soon enough. "What about the incident with Mister Riddle this morning?"

That wasn't something he wanted to speak to Dumbledore about, Harry frowned thoughtfully. "It was an accident, sir. He just rubs me the wrong way, is all."

There was a knowing look in Dumbledore's eyes that Harry definitely didn't like. "Yes, I believe the feeling is mutual. Even so, I'd like for you to try and get along with the other students and that includes Mister Riddle."

"All right, but only if you tell me about Grindelwald," Harry said decisively.

"I don't know about that, Harry," Dumbledore shook his head. "Wouldn't you rather know about what the Ministry is doing to get you home?"

Harry snorted. "No. I'm not sure I can trust the Ministry to send me home in one piece. So I'm trying to get comfortable in this time. I won't be comfortable until I know what's happening with Grindelwald... Sir." He flailed an arm around as he continued. "It's not like it's some big secret and I already know that you were once friends with him-"

Dumbledore choked on the piece of candy he was sucking on. Harry stared at him in horror but stayed in his seat as Dumbledore held up his hand, summoning a glass of water and gulping it down. "And how did you come about that information?"

"You told me," was Harry's response.

The man blinked at him, surprise evident on his face. He frowned in thought, then nodded as he came to a conclusion. "All right. But tell me, Harry... Why do you really wish to know about him?"

"Truthfully? I don't know," Harry crossed his arms on the desk and leaned his head upon them. "There's this feeling that I have. I can't identify it. I only know what little you told me about Grindelwald, sir. But... I'd like to know more. Why did he become a Dark Lord?"

"I met Gellert one summer, he was staying with his aunt, Bathilda Bagshot," Dumbledore began fondly, smiling softly at the memories. "He'd been expelled from Durmstrang, you see, when he was sixteen. Gellert was always fascinated by the Dark Arts and would not stop pursuing his interest. I was two years older." He heaved a sigh, his expression so weary that Harry felt guilty for making him remember. "I agreed with his beliefs. That wizards should rise up over Muggles, all for the greater good."

Harry tensed suddenly, something about those words didn't sit right with him.

"My brother, Aberforth, tried to reason with us," Dumbledore shook his head, stopping momentarily to gather his thoughts. "Gellert was always temperamental, so easily angered."

Like me, Harry thought distantly.

"In the resulting duel... My dear sister, Ariana, was killed. Aberforth could never forgive me," the man smiled grimly. "Gellert ran, of course. I ended our friendship that day-"

"Why would you do that?" Harry wondered.

Dumbledore blinked at him.

"Sir, no offense, but... he was sixteen years old," Harry whispered furiously. "He was my age. You say he was temperamental? What does that make me? I attempted to strangle a dwarf for doing his job!"

"Harry, you don't understand-"

"You placed all your blame on him," Harry continued in the same tone of voice. "He needed a friend. Someone who understood him and stood by him. But you blamed all your mistakes on him. And you wonder why he ran away? For all intents and purposes, Sir, you abandoned him. Was it even he who killed your sister?"

"That's enough!" Dumbledore cut in abruptly.

Harry faltered at the expression on his face, swallowing heavily against the bile in his throat. With a heavy heart and blurry eyes, he gathered his bag and all but ran from the room. Unable to stop thinking on the similarities between himself and the Dark Lord Grindelwald. If he lost his temper and accidentally lead someone to getting killed, would everyone abandon him too?