Crabbe and Goyle introduced themselves to Harry at their first meeting. Or Vince and Greg now that they were friends. The Slytherins had requested their newfound friendship with Harry be kept a secret, simply because their families were unlikely to be at all supportive and Slytherin politics would see them on the outs if it ever came to light. Harry was delighted to meet the people they really were behind the pureblood masks, and they met up two times a week before dinner in abandoned classrooms and secret corridors Harry found in his explorations with Fred and George.

Pansy Parkinson was an absolute delight. She was what he thought Hermione had been; highly intelligent, caring and righteous. Pansy had taken to mothering Harry, and helping him with his charms homework. He liked talking to her, and it was never awkward, not since that fateful train ride. They could talk about anything and everything under the Sun, and she taught him a lot about the Wizarding World and the social hierarchies. In turn, he told her about the Muggle world, and helped her with DADA homework. He was shocked to learn she was nobility, that Draco was as well.

"How does that work?" Harry asked the Slytherins one day in November. They were lounging about in the old music classroom on the 6th floor. Not many people wandered up there, since it was mainly the teachers quarters and confusing corridors. Blaise had found some old pillows in a locked cupboard, and after casting a few cleaning spells, and a couple of Engorgios, the group lounged about on the cushioned floor.

"My family's been in England for about twelve generations," Pansy said, "Our ancestral roots are in Korea. Father obeyed tradition and married a Korean girl, but raised me here. I know that's what you really meant to ask Harry. Don't worry, I'm not offended."

Harry blushed up at her from Pansy's lap. The both of them seemed to fall together that way ever since the train incident. "All right. So you're pure Korean?"

Pansy shrugged. She flipped a page of the magazine she was reading, "Occasionally someone would marry another race. But the Parkinson line stayed mostly Korean. We are nobility because my ancestor was a rebellious and unrefined heir apparent to a Count. He had no money of his own, spent most of it travelling. He courted a girl from a rich Korean family, she started a business and ran it, building their riches. He caused quite a scandal by taking her name instead when he married her."

Vince and Greg snickered. They were pretty much a packaged deal. Harry had had no idea how to talk to them, but then Vince had mentioned Quidditch and it all fell into place. Harry now knew more about Quidditch teams than he ever wanted to.

"Well, not all of us come from nobility Harry, I for one simply have my mother to thank for our infinite wealth and beauty," Blaise said.

"Why? What does she do?"

They all turned pitying gazes on him. Harry shifted nervously under their scrutiny. Blaise turned back to the Prophet, "When you're older Harry."

Blaise Zabini was… intriguing. He had always seemed the mysterious, Italian bad boy that had all the girls in a tizzy. But Harry now knew he was as in your face and brash as anyone could be.

Blaise liked to talk about various fashion and beauty products, and every time he saw Harry - regardless of day, time, or present company - he always flicked his wand and Harry's hair would shift into a styled mess, rather than just a mess. Harry had awkwardly yet amusedly turned down Cho Chang's request for a date.

Blaise also liked to argue with Harry about various political movements in both Muggle and Wizarding worlds. He confided in Harry that he was gay, and Harry hadn't even blinked before Blaise had coined him bisexual. Harry had no idea what any of that meant so he just nodded and let Blaise talk about the advancing movement for gay rights in the Wizarding World.

"What about you Draco?"

Draco picked at his nails, he seemed perfectly comfortable in the lone wooden chair in the room, sitting properly and looking down at all of them. He puffed up in pride, "Malfoys are French. We are not the main line, they stayed in France. My grandfather, Abraxas Malfoy was first generation English. We are a wealthy pureblood French family, but Grandfather and Father secured our assets in England. The nobility comes from my mother actually. There were no other options for the Black main line to pass on their title, so it went to her."

"Wait, Black? Like Sirius Black?" Harry shot up, knocking his head into Pansy's magazine. Draco stiffened, and avoided looking at Harry, instead picking at his nails, "Yes. He's my mother's first cousin."

Harry gaped and then shrugged. He couldn't help but be related to the Dursleys, why was Draco's relation to Sirius Black any different?

"Do you think he knows about you?"

Draco relaxed minutely, "Doubt it. He was disowned when Mother was still in her teens."

Draco Malfoy was annoyingly perfect, in Harry's opinion. He and Harry got along like a house on fire the moment they put aside their enmity and competitiveness, though he was still a pompous arse most of the time. They talked about Quidditch, they talked about school, they talked a little bit about Harry's life with the Dursleys and Draco's life with Lucius Malfoy as a father. They talked about Snape's hatred for Harry and Dumbledore's obvious favouring and the first Wizarding war.

They gossiped like a pair of old ladies ("Did you see who came down to breakfast with Cedric Diggory today?" "Cho Chang! I know. She's so creepy.") and went on adventures around the castle when Pansy and Blaise started talking about the latest Wizarding fashion. Draco and him went in search of the Hogwarts kitchens, after Harry received a tip off from Fred and George. The duo found Dobby, and the whole story had come out about Draco eavesdropping on his parents and Dobby trying to clean his muddy boots and accidentally eavesdropping as well.

("You impersonated Vince and Greg? With Polyjuice? How did you even -")

Harry also reconnected with Remus Lupin, his father's best friend and occasional babysitter when Harry was a baby. Remus began to teach Harry the Patronus Charm after Harry's stoic reasoning for defending himself.

"The school is surrounded by Dementors, Professor. I won't allow myself to become their victim."

"The Patronus Charm is a very complex and highly advanced spell, Harry, and do call me Remus when we're in private," Remus said. They were in his office. Remus was grading papers while Harry fussed with a Rubix Cube Remus had procured in his time living amongst Muggles.

"I defeated a giant snake out to kill me in second year, Remus," Harry deadpanned, "At least let me try."

Remus had thrown his hands up in the air in exasperation and agreed, to Harry's great delight. Harry would secretly spend most of his Saturday evenings in the company of the DADA Professor, talking about his parents, the Marauders, practicing the Patronus Charm, and doing homework - though never DADA.

Remus eventually told him the truth about Sirius Black that all the adults wanted to keep from him.

"He - He's my what?"

"Your godfather. If the Headmaster hadn't had you taken away to the Dursleys as soon as it happened, Sirius Black would've had every right to take you. He is your legal guardian."

"Was -," Harry swallowed painfully, "Was he the reason Voldemort knew about my parents? About me?"

Remus looked down at the boy in front of him with sorrowful and pained eyes.

"Yes."

Harry flew into a rage in Remus' office, cursing Sirius Black every foul word he'd learned from Vernon and Dudley Dursley. By the time he'd calmed down, Remus' things were almost completely destroyed. Harry crumpled and apologised profusely. He'd wrecked a Professor's office. Remus winced at his damaged things - a result of Harry's Magical outburst - and Reparo'd everything he could.

"I'm so sorry Professor Lupin. I promise to reimburse everything."

"Nonsense, Harry. You don't need to do for the last time, call me Remus."

"But Remus -"

"Harry, really, everything is fine."

"No Remus, I know you're struggling and I know I've probably just destroyed everything you held dear. Most of them were falling apart anyway. My dad wouldn't have let one of his best friends suffer like this. Especially not one who was looking out for me the way you are now."

"Harry -"

"Shush, Remus. It's happening whether you like it or not. You're going to find yourself on the receiving end of access to the Potter Vaults -"

"WHAT! Harry, you can't do that! I absolutely refuse -"

"Remus, you're my father figure now. Take the responsibility."

Remus looked at Harry in shock and incredulity. Harry stood firm though he shifted awkwardly at his deep attachment to Remus. Remus crossed over and hugged Harry hard, but careful not to crush the small boy.

"All right. All right. You're every bit as stubborn as James."

"Good."

"You're quite a Slytherin aren't you?"

"Yes, I've been told."

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