Chapter Eleven

A New Ally

Classes continued and Harry's boredom grew with each passing day. He had long since become used to his wand. The only problem he still had was occasionally using too much power. Draco and Blaise helped him cover those events and the day would return to monotony.

Something was starting soon which would break the tedium. The Quidditch season was approaching and the house rivalries were at an all time high. The biggest surprise came when the Slytherin team learned Rose had made the Gryffindor team.

Harry had to sit through classes with his ex-parents going on and on about their wonderful children. Rose was given 50 points by James for saying sorry after punching a Hufflepuff for sticking up for the Slytherins.

When Harry heard about the incident he sought out the Hufflepuff. It was one of the girls in his year, Hannah Abbott. Harry saw the blossoming black eye and had to work extremely hard to rein in his magic. He quickly explained his plan to Hannah, who nodded in agreement.

Harry cast a wandless invisibility spell and led her down to the Slytherin dorms. He charmed a note to go to Draco and Blaise telling them to come to their room.

Once in his room, he took the spell off Hannah and fetched a jar of bruise salve from his trunk. He helped her rub it into the wicked looking mark. He had just handed the girl a mild pain relieving draught when Draco and Blaise showed up flanked by Pansy.

Draco saw the jar of bruise salve and recognized the potion Hannah had taken. He took in Harry's angry demeanor and the fading bruise around Hannah's cheek and asked the obvious question. "What happened?"

Harry saved Hannah from answering. "Rose punched her because she stuck up for us. James gave Rose 50 points for saying sorry and refused to let Hannah visit Pomfrey. I know both Slytherin and Hufflepuff have a free period now, so I tracked her down and brought her here. I thought we should warn Uncle Severus that James and Lily are making the house rivalries worse."

As Harry explained the situation, Draco inspected Harry's work healing Hannah. "Harry, why did you use the murtlap salve instead of the comfrey-based one?"

Harry answered the question distractedly. "I used the murtlap because Rose didn't break the skin. Comfrey helps open wounds heal; the murtlap just draws the soreness out. Also, the comfrey could have interfered with other potions she might need in the near future."

"Good decision," Draco told him. Then Draco addressed his next question to Hannah. "How is your house reacting to what happened? You are the loyal house. Who are they blaming for this fiasco?"

Hannah still being a little shaken by the recent events answered shakily. "They are split. Half of them are angry at Rose and the Gryffindors; the other half says none of it would have happened if the Slytherins weren't involved. I personally think I was right to defend you. If I may ask, why did the rivalry between the two houses get so bad? I have an older brother in Ravenclaw. He said while the rivalry wasn't pleasant no one got hurt."

"Because I have the misfortune of being the brother to the children who lived." Harry paused, wondering how much to tell her. He decided that if he wanted people on his side they needed to be told the full story. "I was shipped off to my aunt and uncle's house so my siblings could train. My relatives were basically told to neglect me to the point of breaking my spirit. Luckily for me, Uncle Severus discovered the plan and worked with my relatives. He taught me both magic and wizarding customs.

I came back to the wizarding world to find my siblings were spoiled brats and my parents were arrogant and cruel. The only reason Diarmid is here a year early is because he threw a temper tantrum. No one was going to tell the boy-who-lived no.

You've witnessed the fallout; I was disowned and disfigured. The rivalry is so strong because my ex-family has a lot of clout and no one knew I existed before the Sorting. They can't stand anyone being a threat to their power or fame. That was the reason behind my abandonment in the first place. They are encouraging the rivalries because they want the Slytherins and me to have nothing while they have it all."

Hannah was shocked and had a horrified look in her eyes. After all Hufflepuff is the house of loyalty and abandonment for reasons like that is unthinkable to any true Hufflepuff. "They really did that to you?" After Harry nodded she asked, "Why are you telling me this? What do you need me to do?"

"I am telling you this because if I want support from people I have to give something in return and the best thing I can give right now is honesty. However, I'm not telling you everything quite yet. Some of the information is dangerous and needs to be kept quiet for the time being. I'm sure you can understand why that's necessary." He got a nod from her and started answering her second question.

"What I need you to do is uphold your house's honor. If someone asks you why you stuck up for us or where you have been tell them the truth. If anyone hurts or threatens you find one of us we will protect you and anyone else that needs it."

Harry turned to the other Slytherins. "Pansy, Blaise could you two please take her back to her dorms. Do you remember the invisibility spell I taught you?"

"Yes to both questions," Pansy said as Blaise nodded his head. Pansy cast the spell on Hannah and the three of them trouped away out of Slytherin territory and toward Hufflepuff territory.

Draco waited until the other three students were out of earshot before rounding on his friend. "Harry, are you sure telling her all that was a good idea?"

Harry had been expecting this so he answered quickly and calmly. "Yes I'm sure. Did you even listen when I answered Hannah? I need the truth to come from a reliable preferably neutral source. Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws obviously are the best choice. Plus, when the truth about the boy-who-lived comes out I will need support from all the houses.

I truly respect the Hufflepuffs and now through Hannah I have contact with them. I will eventually try to persuade the Ravenclaws. I do not want to be like Dumbledore and manipulate people. I will tell them the truth and let them make their own choices. I just can't tell it all at once or there will be mass hysteria. If I told everything at once I would be shattering too many of their core beliefs. It would be like telling Christians Christmas was invented by the department stores. The way to do this is to take it slow, make actual friends in each house and never break their trust."

Draco thought about that for a moment. "Alright I can see how that will work. Just be careful who you tell. The Hufflepuffs are safe; they are loyal and kind. The Ravenclaws are tricky and probably have just as many Death Eater children as Slytherin. I will help where I can, but this is your plan and you get to orchestrate it."

Just then the bell rang telling them to get to their next class, which happened to be Herbology with the Hufflepuffs. When Hannah saw him she waved happily and he smiled and waved back at her.

Classes continued on in the same general pattern until Saturday and the first scheduled Quidditch match, Slytherin verses Gryffindor.

A/N another chapter down next chapter Quidditch. You will also be happy to note I now have a beta for this story

proftlb thank you so much.