A/N: First of all I have to say that while I have not replied to anyone who commented on the last chapter, I did read each and everyone. To all of you who commented I cannot tell you how much your support and encouragement means to me in this difficult time. You all have nothing short of amazing and I appreciate each and every one of you even though I don't know you personally. While I have not yet moved past my ex-husband's betrayal I seem to be having a good weekend and inspiration hit so I bring this short chapter to show how greatful I am to have you all as readers.
Disclaimer: You all know what goes here so I'm not gonna repeat it.
Chapter 11
"Potter," Malfoy drawled in that ridiculously haughty tone that Harry didn't think he could ever forget. "I don't know who you think you are brushing me off like you did last night, but do you know who my father is?"
Harry wanted to roll his eyes, badly, but refrained. "Lord Lucius Abraxas Malfoy." He replied in a bored tone.
Draco seemed to be taken aback but Harry wasn't sure if it was because he answered correctly or because he answered at all, but he masked it quickly. "Smart enough to know your betters I see, you should also know then that my father could make your life a miserable hell if you don't watch your step." He sneered and took a step closer.
Harry kept his body loose and relaxed, never once letting it show that he noticed Draco and his lackeys palming their wands in what they thought was an unnoticeable way. None had taken their eyes from either boy so Harry made sure the folds of his robe covered the motion of him dropping his wand from his wrist sheath to his hand. He wasn't exactly sure how he was going to end this but he did know that he wasn't going to let any of them see how capable he was of wandless Magic.
"I think I understand how you see things now but let me tell you something Heir Malfoy. I know exactly who your parents are and I hold a great deal of respect for both Lord and Lady Malfoy, however you are nothing but a spoiled little brat trying to play grown up and thinking that riding daddy's coattails will get you somewhere in life. Sure the Malfoy name will open quite a few doors for you but that's only because both of your parents have made a name for themselves by whatever means were necessary. Your mother may as well be the queen of purebloods, not only does she know all the best gossip and hold the most popular gatherings but she also is a formidable dueler and healer. Your father on the other hand may use the Malfoy fortune to line pockets to get what he wants but he is cunning enough to not get caught doing it, everyone knows but no one can prove it. You right now are nothing compared to your mother and father." Harry wiped all emotion from his face just waiting for the inevitable blow up.
It was so very easy to see it was coming too. The blonde's face turned red with anger, "You filthy little half blood. I'll show you exactly what I am capable of; you will be nothing more than a bug smeared on the bottom of my shoe, less than your blood traitor father and mudblood mother." Draco thought he was fast but Harry saw the twitch of his hand just before he raised his wand, the four that followed him raising theirs a second behind. It was then that Harry relaxed the tight 'fist' he had around his core and let his Magic flow free.
His Magic crashed through the common room like an ocean wave in the middle of a storm. It coated every single inch with the feeling of icy rage and froze every person in the room. Unfortunately Harry focused the majority of his Magic on the five who had decided to stand against him and it weighted them down; forcing them to their hands and knees. Harry looked over his shoulder at Theo who was standing stiffly just behind and to the left, and nodded his head toward the dorms. It was close enough to curfew that everyone that was not in the common room should have been in the dorms and the prefects wouldn't be doing their rounds just yet. If he was going to do this Harry decided he'd go big and do it once, he made sure to summon his attackers wands and waited for Theo to return. It only took a few minutes but Harry could have sworn that not one person even twitched, he wasn't sure if they were even breathing.
Theo re-entered the common room followed by a handful of nervous looking first years and an odd number of various upper years. Harry raised his wand and pointed it at the ceiling, with a quick clockwise circle and a jab he sent a wave of Magic wordlessly up above them and set his personally made privacy wards to cover the room and keep anyone not there from overhearing what was said or revealing it later.
Once done he replace his wand back in it's holster and dropped his now free hand, again adopting a bored relaxed air. "I have called you here for a reason." He nodded toward the newly entered children who had all frozen in place in front of the entrance to the dorms. "Tell me can anyone move? Please raise your hand if so." It never hurt to be polite and he didn't have to look behind him to see Theo and Blaise with their hands raised. They could feel the Magic but not be affected by it just because he wanted it to be so.
It was clear the struggle everyone put up and when they couldn't accomplish the simple task of raising their arms multiple faces bloomed with fear. Harry crouched down in front of Malfoy. All five of his housemates were struggling hard enough to sweat, their faces turning pink with exertion. "Raise your heads and look around." Three of the five obeyed.
In a voice gone cold with clear command he told them once again to raise their heads and look around and they had no choice but to obey. Harry waited until Malfoy was looking directly at him. "I may be a filthy half-blood by your standards but look what I can do to all these purebloods. Let this be a lesson to all of you, blood doesn't matter and I do not want to hear the word mudblood uttered in my hearing ever again."
He stood again, "I am Lord Harrison James Potter and I am not who you think I am. Everything you've heard, read or been told, forget it because it's more than likely wrong. I am not Dumbledore's golden boy and never refer to me as The-Boy-Who-Lived. Attack me or someone I consider mine and you will find out just what I can do and I can guarantee you will not enjoy the show." Harry looked down at the five boys on the floor, "Stand." He commanded.
He took a step forward so that he was almost nose to nose with Malfoy, Harry never took his eyes off the blonde but spoke so the whole room could hear. "What you just did was a great show of Gryffindor bold brashness and you are not a Gryffindor. I know you have just as much cunning as your parents so stop hiding behind daddy and be a Slytherin the Hat didn't put you in this house for no reason. Right now this house has the worst reputation and everyone here just keeps proving them right because very few of you put your cunning to good use."
"Right now you all are mine and that means you do not attack each other, you don't have to like everyone but be respectful, if you're going to do something against the rules outside of the Common room use a glamor, Notice-Me-Not or Disillusionment spell, if you don't know them find someone who does to teach you. Stop with the mudblood and blood traitor nonsense, just because you believe it doesn't mean you have to say it out loud. Don't give the teachers anything to use against you because right now Professor Snape is really the only one on your side." Harry, finished with his speech, began pulling his Magic back to his core and clenching a metaphorical fist around it once more; only letting the tiniest amount leak so as not to arouse suspicion from anyone who was sensitive to Magic like the Headmaster.
Harry spun on his heel in one quick move and then looked over his shoulder at the room, "By the way, don't bother trying to reveal anything that has been said or has happened here, you will find you cannot and if you force yourself to try you will know pain." Not one person made a sound as Harry strode gracefully from the room, his robes fluttering behind him in a similar way to the Potion Professor.
Once the wall closed behind them shutting them out of the Slytherin common room Blaise decided it was okay to speak up, "I am glad you're on our side, if you weren't aware, Harry, you're a little intimidating."
Harry snickered at the declaration. At the door to Severus' office Harry stopped and turned to his two companions, "I learned long ago to hold my temper except when it comes to family and loved ones. Keep that in mind and you'll be fine." He turned back and knocked on the door three times sharply and waited for Severus called out for them to enter. Severus looked up from his desk long enough to wave at the seats in front of him and bent back over a small stack of papers.
Harry took a seat and pulled out his journal to go over a few things and add some things to his to do list like writing to the Goblins about receiving the Black heir ring since he'd forgotten it the last time he had been there. Once finished he glanced around; Severus looked to be just about finished with what Harry guessed to be assignment markings, Blaise seemed to be reading ahead in his Charms book and Theo was absorbed in a book on rituals. When the Professor was down to his last paper, Harry closed the journal and put it away; Theo and Blaise following his lead put their things away and the stripped off their robes stowing them in theirs bags as well. Severus stood and waited for Harry to cast impervious charms on the three of them, since they weren't going to be sliding down a slimy dirty tunnel, and bid them to follow him to his office.
The Potion Master held the door open as the boys preceded him into the room. He closed the door with a quiet click then put a silent alarm on the door to alert him if anyone came knocking. Harry turned to the hidden door in the bookcase when Severus finished casting. With a hissed 'open' and the sound of grinding stone and clinking glass the door opened for the four Wizards to enter the tunnel leading to the Chamber. Severus and the two younger boys waited for Harry to close the door behind them and let him lead the way into the largest room.
The walk there was silent except for their footsteps echoing off the stone around them and the sound of water dripping. The mouth of Slytherin's statue still stood open and with no sign of the Basilisk in the surrounding Chamber, Harry figured she was most likely inside with his familiar. In the middle of the room Severus, Theo and Blaise stopped to let Harry approach the opening of Angitia's nest alone.
Not knowing how territorial the Basilisk was about her nest he made no attempt to enter. $Angitia? Nidhogg?$ Harry called from the opening. When the sound of scales on stone came he backed away slightly to give her room to exit. He averted his eyes just in case and let her scent him while Nidhogg slithered out next to her.
$You may look upon myself, one called Harry.$
Harry looked up with a relieve sigh. $How was your hunt? $
$It was satisfying. I thank you for clearing the way for me.$ She nudged her snout against his chest and he lifted his hand to scratch at the scales along her jaw.
$As long as you are not seen I'll leave you to come and go as you please. If anything happens to the students the headmaster will become suspicious.$
$Understood. I will be cautious, I am enjoying my freedom after so long and having your familiar around to keep me company has been a source of great comfort.$
$My companions and myself will be moving around the Chamber again tonight, I will alert you when we leave.$ Harry informed Angitia before stroking her smooth scales one last time and turned to his companions.
Harry listened to Nidhogg's excited ramblings with half an ear while he sent Blaise and Theo off together so he could speak with Severus alone. While he thought of what he wanted to say to the Professor he moved to large stone snakes lining the main chamber. Until they found a way to drain or syphon the water here there wasn't much they could do, however he could make it look a little better by Scourigifying the mold and grime off the statues. He caught sight of Severus from the corner of his eye doing the same thing on the opposite side of the walkway.
"Professor-"
"Severus," The older man interrupted quickly. "I think, considering the circumstances, you may call me Severus in private."
Harry's wand froze for a split second in surprise before resuming. He glanced over his shoulder at Severus' back. "Severus then, I was wondering if you perhaps knew a way to get someone in the school without the Headmaster noticing?"
The Professor angled his body so that he could continue the conversation while he worked on the remaining statues. "Yes, may I inquire as to why you are asking?"
Harry's lips twitched at the familiar way Severus spoke. "There are only three more people I plan to bring on this including revealing my secret; Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy first. I will need both of them if we plan to bring the Dark Lord back successfully."
"The Headmaster monitors the Floo Network, he does not know specifics but he will know if someone enters the castle in that manner. However I do know a way around that. Who will be the third person?" Severus asked although he had an idea who it would be.
"The Dark Lord, I would not be able to keep it from him and if he and I are so alike, he would not tolerate being lied to. Not only that but the truth in this case may be the only way to get him to go back to his original goals and change some of his more...Unreasonable ones, like killing all muggles."
Severus nodded at the confirmation of what he already suspected. "I understand why you would want or need Lucius brought into the fold, but why Narcissa?"
Harry stopped what he was doing and turned to face his Professor. "You already know about the Horcrux from my memories so you know that Helga Hufflepuff's Cup is one. What I didn't show you, only because it was that important, is the Dark Lord gave it to Bellatrix to keep safe. She put it in her vault at Gringotts; since she is incarcerated at the moment as is her husband Narcissa, as closest living relative, has access to Bellatrix vault."
He hesitated and dropped his voice a little more. "Everyone knows that purebloods are all related in some way because of intermarrying, but my grandfather Charlus Potter married Dorea Black. There are four living Blacks at the moment, the last and closest family I have; Andromeda, Bellatrix, Narcissa and Sirius. When my parents were killed I should have gone to Sirius, he was head of the Black family and my legally appointed Godfather but he was incarcerated as was Bellatrix eventually and while Andromeda is related but blood she has no legal claim because she was disowned. So I must ask Narcissa, and since she is married to Lucius, if they would be willing to take custody of me."
Severus saw enough in the boy's memories to know why he would ask the Malfoys to take guardianship of him and didn't bring up what was unspoken. "What about Black?" He asked instead, knowing the boy's Godfather was innocent.
"I have a plan to get Sirius cleared after Narcissa files the needed paperwork, if she agrees but I have no plans to let him take custody of me if that's the case. Sirius wouldn't understand why I am doing this and his prejudice has run too deep for too long for him to change and work civilly with people he's hated all his life. I love Sirius, he's family but in that other life I loved what he represented more; escape and freedom. I don't need it anymore but I understand now that he's too selfish to be a parental figure, he gave no thought to my well-being the night of my parents murder other than to hand me off to Hagrid and if I had let things continue the way they would have he wouldn't have escaped for me it would have been for revenge again."
For a split second Severus felt pity for the child Harry had once been but kept it masked, he knew from experience how well pity would be received. "I have little doubt the Malfoy's would refuse your proposal especially in light of this new development, but what would you do if they said no?"
Harry shrugged and turned back to his work, they were just about finished and then they could head back for the night. "I would continue with my plans and as long as Sirius did as the Wizengamot commanded such as getting mentally and physically fit, he would be able to gain custody of me. That wouldn't be so bad but I would be limited in what I would be able to do and go since I would most likely be watched by him and the Headmaster during the summer as well as the school year."
"True." They went back to their statues in silence and finished quickly. Severus waved his wand and cast a silent Tempus. "It is still early enough. Collect your roommates and we shall retire for the night. I will speak with Lucius tonight with your permission to reveal everything. When do you need to meet with them?"
"By Thursday, I will need them to gather the final items before the weekend. We will do the ritual on Saturday at sundown since I am not sure how draining it will be. You have my permission to reveal whatever you think in necessary." Harry conjured his Patronus and sent it off to recall Blaise and Theo since he didn't really feel like searching the tunnels for them And Severus left taking the tunnel back to his office.
Harry gently stroked the top of Nidhogg's head while he lost himself in thought. He was curious about how the conversation between the Potion Master and Lucius would go. He hadn't ever made the effort to know either man personally and he was glad he'd have the chance this time. He also wondered how the future was going to turn out this time. As it was right now there would be no opening of the Chamber since he would have used the Diary for the ritual and Sirius would not escape from Azkaban because Harry would have gotten him a trial before Third year.
Harry did wonder about the Triwizard Tournament though. Was that brought back because the Dark Lord had someone in the Ministry to push for it, was it just the Ministry that did it and the Dark Lord took advantage or did the Headmaster manipulate things once again? There were too many questions and not enough answers and that was one of the reasons Harry was excited to be bringing the Dark Lord back. At his best the man was a genius and master of his craft, granted he was also sadistic and diabolical but a genius none the less. Harry couldn't wait to lay all this out with him and get his take on the situation and see what they couldn't come up with together.
He had no more time to ponder on thoughts of the future when Blaise and Theo met back at the main Chamber with him and they made their way back to an almost empty Common room. If Harry had the energy he would have wondered when or where the next confrontation with the youngest Malfoy would come. But he figured he'd worry about that tomorrow and just made his way past the few people in the Common Room with his roommates following behind him.
Severus closed the door to his personal quarters and sagged against it. These next few years were going to be difficult and he could only hope Harry knew what he doing. He straightened and pulled off his robes to throw over the back of a chair and went right to his liquor cabinet to pour himself a healthy serving of firewhiskey.
He threw back the first tumbler then poured another and sat it on the table next to his favorite chair. Palming his wand, Severus went to the fireplace and began to widen the hole in the ward that would alert the Headmaster to anyone coming or going through the Floo. With that done he took a handful of Floo Powder and tossed it in calling out Lucius Office at Malfoy Manor.
As expected the Lord of the manor was sitting behind his desk reading. Lucius looked up at the sound of the Floo activating and stood, "Severus, I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon. Is something wrong?"
"No Lucius but if you have the time I need for you to step through." Severus said impetuously.
"Certainly, just give me a moment and I'll be right through."
Severus pulled his head from the magical fire and went to his chair to sit and wait. He assumed Lucius would call a house elf to alert Narcissa to where he had gone. He sipped at his drink and the fire flared less than a handful of minutes later. "Help yourself to a beverage and take a seat. This is important and it will probably take some time."
