The One with the 50 Bloody Logs
RESTLESS
Book 1: The Third Riddle
2 Stoppered Death
The previous chapter two chapters happen to a Harry Potter who's very very tired. His brain is not being used to its full capacity, he's not had time for chaos, he lacks a large enough audience and Ms Riddle has also been frustrating him. This chapter continues in the same vein to the end of the week.
Room of Planning, Raventree Hall
31st July, 1991
Immediately after the book of 'Blackmail' had been opened, Alexa rushed to the pages on the Lestranges. The Lady Bellatrix was, by and far, the Greatest active enemy of the three.
And any sway over her was most essential.
The entries on them were all mostly outdated (Related to deceased members). Had it been so easy to convict the Lady Lestrange, thousands would've already been on it. And Bellatrix would've been cackling in Azkaban. Most witnesses to her many felonies generally ended up in MoM databases as 'Death by Misadventure.'
For those that weren't ruled so, well the coroner soon followed their 'patients.'
When they finally found something actionable upon, it was just an identity.
[Name: Maisie Snyder. (13, 3rd year Ravenclaw, Non-magical born)
Status: Missing since Winter of '80]
"And if Bellatrix Lestrange is wanted for a Murder charge..." began Alexa.
"I don't know, Lexi. A Muggleborn 'disappearance' won't cause much controversy. Auntie will get off Scot-free," ended Jon.
"No, it won't. No, Maisie here has to be part of something larger. Else Arcturus would never have mentioned her. It calls for some investigation, doesn't it?" It may/mayn't mean that but Harry was optimistic.
"And where do we begin?"
"3rd Year, '80. Who do we know that would've been there?"
Nobody. James Potter began in '71. And they couldn't very well ask Bellatrix herself. Other than that...
Alexa banged the book shut. "Huh. Let's go on and be even more Anti-social. I'm sure it'll increase our chances." Alexa wasn't the Queen of Sarcasm. But she was good enough.
"Hogwarts?" asked Jon as he chucked the Book back into it's Safe.
"Hogwarts," said Harry even as his free hand slammed the door shut.
The Slytherin Common Room
Past Dawn, 2nd September, 1991
'Squelch!'
The fish which the Heiress Daphne of Aldaine had been following with her crystal purple eyes for hours had just breathed its last.
On second thought, being pierced by a deadly sharp spear in water probably didn't give the pretty fish time to breathe its last. Daphne watched its last convulsions emotionlessly.
A part of her cringed at seeing it become the Dawn breakfast of a merman wandering in the Black Lake. The part was one she'd carefully labelled the '11 year old girl part' or Evelyn (Daphne knew it wasn't the most creative of names, but it did the job).
Most of her, however, knew that the fish, though small and pretty, had lost in the Game of Life and thus deserved to die. If there was one thing she'd learnt from her 'adventures' early on in life, it was that Life was short and should be treated with Great caution.
And that only the best players lived long enough to speak any of the wise words she heard so it was best to follow them. They must've known what they were doing. Jamie would've called it bullshit, she knew. But Jamie wasn't here. Daphne was alone.
Blaise had brought a nice and comfortable blanket for her. Being literally surrounded on three sides by water, the Common Room in the Dungeons easily lived up to the expectations of cold one set on entering it.
And lying on a three seater, anxiously waiting for the result of a completely unexpected political move was not how Daphne had envisioned her first night at the House of Snakes would go.
Vesper was sleeping on the chair just beside Daphne's couch. The poor girl had tried, she really had. But being habituated to sleeping right at 2300 hours meant that Daphne's intimidator had nodded off within an hour of the Prefects' departure.
Blaise had covered Vesper with a plain white sheet. If anyone in the Common Room saw how vulnerable she appeared when asleep, all her potential to become a formidable Slytherin would vanish.
As it was, a rising and falling white sheet in the still Dark room only consolidated her position.
"What do you think is taking him so long?"
A lot of the house had been interested in whatever Snape did to Heir Potter and many had agreed to stay behind to watch the conclusion of what was sure to be a major blow to the Light. Just because a Eleven year old couldn't take the time to listen to the teacher.
"Potter is smart, Snape is angry, Hogwarts is big," explained Daphne. The opponents who ended their political careers on their own overconfidence was something she appreciated. It would save her some time in her Power Grab of Slytherin.
"And?"
"And a smart Potter in an unfamiliar but huge castle will still be able to hide himself pretty well. It will take quite some time for Snape and 7 uninterested Perfects to find him. Then Potter has to face an angry Snape who'll try his best to take his revenge for the time it took to find Potter–"
"And waste even more time."
"Yes. There will a faux 'battle,' where Snape or a Prefect attacks Potter and this is the important part, Potter attacks back. And then Snape will go and wake up Dumbledore in his rage and ask him to immediately expel Potter. On grounds of disrespecting and assaulting a teacher and breaking curfew. And they will argue. Snape doesn't want Potter in the School, Dumbledore will lose a majority of his political powers if he expels the BWD."
"So who wins?"
"Dumbledore, of course. Potter won't be expelled. He can get an year's detention..."
Understanding dawned on Blaise's face. "Something which greatly impedes his already doomed journey to learning Battle Magic."
Daphne was on a roll now. "Yup. Snape isn't gonna settle for anything less. The only reason he's pursuing Potter is to get him an year's detection on the first day and sell it as a bargain."
"You said 'Yup.' You aren't supposed to say Yup. It's just not something Daphne Aldaine does."
No it wasn't. The tiredness had made Daphne break character. Or was it the thought of Potter's Green eyes, staring at her not in silent admiration, or useless pity or jealousy or plain old interestStaring at her instead in pure, unadulterated, thrilled joy.
She decided the Romantic in Evelyn was going rogue, shut herself up and lay back to wait.
It was past Dawn when the door to the Great House of Slytherin first opened.
And the person who stepped inside was not a victorious Severus Snape. It wasn't a defeated Harry Potter. It was a yawning Alexa Watson. With not a speck of worry on her face.
Not even when 20 odd students aimed their wands at her head. Other than that, there was a tense silence on both sides.
Then Watson yawned again moved back and banged the door shut behind her. Most wands didn't move as the murmuring began.
"What now?" asked Blaise as Vesper blearily got up and threw off her white sheet.
"It doesn't mean anything," Daphne tried explaining Watson's presence, "Of course Snape will try to expel Potter alone. Watson's life here will already be hell in our house. Expulsion after today is not a punishment for her, it's a privilege."
"Well whatever's happened, they'd better get here soon or I'll have to drag them in. I. Just. wanna Sleeeep." That yawn at the end spoiled the effect. Vesper didn't sound interested in anything.
"Vinnie, honey," said Blaise, "By all records, Potter jumped off a train, tracked his way through half of Scotland and then evaded a Hogwarts Professor for quite some time. Before facing expulsion. He needs to sleep. You're just a spoilt whining brat. Say Daph, is there a female word for brat?"
Vesper hit him on his shin. Blaise's cry was obscured by the...
Bang! This time when the door opened Potter (as he was the one who entered) didn't pause like the Slytherins had earlier.
He looked irritated. He also sounded irritated.
Holding the door with one hand, he said, "Look people, as much as I appreciate half my new House waiting for me to be busted for six hours, I'm fucking tired. And I want to sleep. So cut the crap and go back to your dorms please."
He pointed out the direction of the dorms.
In the next second twenty stunners (and some not stunners) flew towards Potter... who had already slammed the door shut before the first stunner had been fired. Potter had been expecting an offensive response. And Slytherin's protection on the House Door took care of them.
"Nuh uh. Potter's certainly not as tired as I am," Vesper mumbled. And Daphne agreed. 'Now why would Snape not stun Potter and allow him to run free?'
The door opened again. This time it was Watson. She just strolled in, loosely balancing her wand in her free hand and walked up to the nearest girl. A Second year at most, when Daphne took measure of her, she appeared quite approachable.
"Hi there! Where were the 1st year Dorms again? Girls Dorms, of course." She didn't sound harassed. She even looked like she was sorry she couldn't speak more nicely as she was tired. The Hell.
The girl became a subject of the stares of the Common Room. "U-uh... G-go back there and um... it's written somewhere... I think."
'Moron.'
"The Third Corridor opening on the left side, Watson," Daphne told her.
Allesandra smiled at her a bit, nodded and walked away, murmering something like 'Don gemme started on 3rd Corridors.' Daphne didn't get it because the door opened yet again.
And the wands which had been trailing Watson's path swivelled back to Harry Potter, now smiling and appearing refreshed. He leaned against one side of the door.
"So, I'm sorry about that earlier thing. I'm sure you are too," he said, waving his hand at the door. Which had a huge cut from a curse it had hit. Something which could've seriously injured Potter.
"Now that aside, I think I asked you all to go to sleep."
A Third year Girl asked, "Where are you sleeping, Heir Potter? You're not expelled, are you?"
Potter raised an eyebrow. "Expelled? The hell would I be expelled?"
A boy, older and not one of those who looked ready to give Potter a one way ticket to Oblivion, clarified the situation, "You know with what you did back there." He pointed out Potter's earlier position, "And then you ran away. And Snape followed you. And you were gone for so long. And we were all waiting." He pointed out all of those who were waiting.
"Oh that! I just wanted to get some fresh air." Potter leaned out the door and tried to breathe in some fresh air.
"You cut the Crap POTTER! Where's Snape? Where's everyone else?"
This one wasn't as friendly. As evidenced by his position near Lestrange's circle and the glow of his wand, which Daphne was sure was an entail expelling curse.
"To answer the earlier question, Honey," Potter smiled charmingly at the Third year girl, who (excusing Daphne's language) fucking blushed, "I'll not be sleeping here today. Now I want everyone to let Alexa sleep peacefully. We've all had a long day and I don't want any injuries. As for Professor Snape? Well let's say he's sleeping. Like all of you should."
"What d'you mean Sleeping? His bedroom lies within the Common Room. We'd have known had he been here."
That wasn't true. But Snape would certainly have informed them of Potter's fate.
"Well he's not sleeping here. He's in the Hospital Wing. Stunned. Along with all your buddies. Other than Ms Silvia Garcia here, of course." He moved from where he leant to point out the open door down at something. He came back. "Sorry but after he tried to curse me the 4th time, there was no other way."
"Why aren't you sleeping here, Harry?" asked the 3rd Year Girl. She appeared a bit too friendly. She was also the only one capable of speech in the room.
"Sleep well and don't worry, Honey. Its just the atmosphere," and in a single wave he pointed out at all the wands trained on him. Half of which had gone limp on hearing his earlier words.
And as the other half shot the curses they were ready for, Potter once again shut the door in their faces. Again before the first spell.
And as many rushed after him some 10 seconds later, Daphne absently murmured, out, "Its not worth it. Let him go." She knew that if Harry Potter was anything like she'd seen, a escape route would've been ready.
"So, what now?" Blaise asked from where he was supporting Vesper on his shoulder, drooling as she slept.
Daphne suddenly found that her 'Power grab by general excellence and ruthless blackmail' plan had just received an Avada Kedavra in the arse. Potter had trumped her the first night.
She sighed. "Now I go to sleep."
On reaching the dorms, she found that Watson was already asleep.
The girl had also (Daphne didn't know whether it was intentional or not) taken the most comfortably placed bed. Which Pansy and Millicent and Vesper had sacrificed for Daphne, Heiress of the most prominent House.
She found she didn't care all that much, used to being the second best all her life.
3rd September, 1991
Alexa found Harry waiting for her just outside the Common Room. She didn't pause as he joined her in her journey to the Great Hall.
"We're LATE!"
Though Jon was the one who rose at the Crack of Dawn, Alexa knew she had to be the one to drag the boys to each of their classes personally. Neither of them were really all that bothered about anything. As was evident when one saw a Harry Potter calmly sipping...
"What are you drinking?"
"Cranberry juice, Watson. Hogwarts Room Service is excellent."
He took another sip out of the glass and explained to her how he'd caught an Elf doing the midnight cleaning and sent it away to bring a dozen different fruit juices, as they walked briskly towards the Great Hall, Alexa holding her History textbook hard against her chest.
"So... who was it?" Ah. Harry also knew that she was never late.
"Parkinson. She tried opening my trunk. She's still under the impression I can't afford security. I had to apply Dittany and ask help from a Sixth year." For her, of course.
"Some of these Purebloods do ensure to take care of one another." Most of them did.
The Great Hall was filled with the noise of some 200 students having their breakfast, something which somewhat dimmed as they walked towards the Gryffindor table. The Hall was thankfully empty of Snape's presence.
Jon was waiting for her there, gaurding her breakfast (Toast, Jam and Chilled water) like it were a precious treasure. Other than the newly Christened 'Golden Trio', others knew to keep well away from him. She didn't know why exactly.
Harry slid into the seat across Jon and beside Neville Longbottom, picking up his cup of coffee as Alexa moved to attack her breakfast.
"When are they coming?" he asked Jon.
"I don't know."
"Why does it even have to take place at Hogwarts?" asked Jim. "The Acceptance can take place at, I dunno, the Three Broomsticks too."
Alexa paused in the middle of her next bite of toast. "The Hogwarts Relations Amendment, circa 1150, states that for any and All students currently enrolled in the School, should they agree to participate in or issue a challenge to another student also enrolled in the School, both parties are bound to resolve all their differences within the School, be it the drawing of agreements, debating it's rules or the Battles themselves, unless the Headmaster claims Host's inability Clause."
Pause.
"What the hell did you just say?" Neville was confused enough to forget his timidity.
Draco Malfoy looked up from his omlette to answer Neville. "It's that independent existence of Hogwarts thing, Longbottom. Heir Potter here challenged Vega in the School. The challenge will thus be accepted here too unless Dumbledore wishes differently."
Draco called Harry 'Heir' not out of formality but to differentiate between the twins (Jim was the Saviour Potter, or mostly, just Potter). Insane life saving friendships aside the boys were far from a first name basis. Alexa felt it was childish.
"How do you know anything about that?" asked Jim Potter.
The fork in Draco's hand clinked against his glass. "There are some benifits of being a Malfoy heir, Potter. In fact I'm surprised Black forgot this."
Jon smiled at her affectionately. "Yeah, Alexa will always remember everything anyways. So nowadays, I can focus on my swordfighting instead of learning a 1500 page long Hogwarts Charter." He looked positively euphoric.
Harry intervened, "Even then, its approaching 9 o'clock already. She's late." He was looking at his silver watch.
As if on cue, Bellatrix Lestrange entered the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Alexa was sure the doors would've been banged open had they already not been open.
It was, of course, only the second time they were seeing Bellatrix Lestrange. Jon, as a minor, still had some advisory powers (worth absolutely nothing) but the Black seat of the Wizengamot had not been opened since Arcturus's death. Which meant no Wizengamot contact with her. And trying to seek dear Aunt Bella independently would most certainly be sucide.
The Lady Lestrange in her tight Black dress moved through the space between the houses with her head held high, almost in a catwalk. A cat-like grace on most women as sexy as Lady Lestrange would've been quite enchanting for the Hogwarts male population. It was, thus, a testimony to her reputation that wherever Alexa looked, she saw fear, not admiration.
The teachers didn't stop her as she waved her wand and a podium of granite rose in front of the Head table. It was black, of course. She walked up behind it and stood up to take a measure of the Great Hall. The atmosphere of terror apparently satisfied her.
Alexa noticed that there was no escort behind her, that the noise in the Hall had died down to nothing.
"Someone here challenged me, I heard?" she said. She didn't use the Sonorous charm Alexa had read of. With that screeching loudness in her voice, she didn't need to. There was no answer other than a few hands pointing in their direction. Cowards.
"So, where is the great challenger who's unafraid of the wrath of Bellatrix Lestrange?"
Rather comfortable in the expected pin drop silence, Harry Potter sipped the last of his coffee without a care.
"I will ask again, as all of you are clearly morons. Where. Is. HARRY POTTER?"
Harry pushed away his coffee, corrected his tie, and stood up. In the silence of the Great Hall, he then walked half the way up to Bellatrix Lestrange... and halted.
"Do you see me now, Auntie?" Harry asked. Alexa knew he hated competing with people less smart than him. Or scarier than him. Or those that had hair wavier than him. Or they who were more insane tham him. Or those who rudely interrupted breakfast.
And unfortunately for her, Bellatrix Lestrange ticked all the boxes alongside being Jon's incestous homicidal Aunt. In short, Harry hated her almost as much as he hated boredom.
"There you are! Come on up here and let's settle this." Harry shook his head disdainfully.
"No? Where's your bravery now, Potty boy. You run from your Muggle house, from your Magical house and now from your Hogwarts house. Do not run from me too. Come to me immediately... and I promise it'll be painless."
Harry also hated poorly delivered dialogues.
"Well you didn't run from your Magical house or your Marital house and certainly not from your Hogwarts house... and look how that turned out, Auntie Bella."
Bellatrix immediately shot a nasty looking Blue curse at Harry, who'd already ducked out of the way, before the shot.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Even if he hadn't, Professor Flitwick's lightning-quick shield would've still protected him. It was over in matter of milliseconds.
"Potter. Back away," McGonagall stood up from her seat. "Lady Lestrange is much better at magic than you'll get to be this year." Or ever, her voice seemed to say.
Harry instead just let his bag fall to the ground, his wand released into it as it fell. "You bore me."
Lady Lestrange's scathing reply was cut off by...
"Exactly what I was saying!" exclaimed Lily Potter on entering the Hall with James Potter and Professor Dumbledore. She may have been answering to McGonagall's suggestion. Or not.
What followed was a chain where Harry tried to offend Bellatrix Lestrange just for existing (he just stared at her), who in turn tried to insult the Potters, again for existing, who were busy with berating Albus Dumbledore for letting the whole situation get out of hand.
Atleast Lily was. Mr Potter had sat down beside Jim to watch the show.
In response, Bellatrix tried to curse Harry (he ducked), and was almost cursed by Lily, who was stopped from blasting her into the Weekend by Dumbledore. They all met varying degrees of success.
Most students and teachers were asked to leave when the tempers rose and the creativity of expletives increased. That left her, the three Black sisters (Lucretia, Vega, Nymphadora), Professors Snape and Riddle and of course, Jon and Harry. Alexa noticed that they forgot to hold back poor Draco. Or Jim or Neville.
In the end, the rules were decided with Bellatrix shouting half of them, Lily shouting at Bellatrix for shouting and Professor Dumbledore trying to win some leniency for Alexa's team, by shouting the other half of the rules the loudest.
It was to be a Three-on-three duel, starting with two combatants, with each participant eligible to go on fighting unless they died or spoke the words 'I give up', necessarily in that order ('I'm fucked' was also acceptable). They'd be followed by the next participant then.
Albus Dumbledore presented himself as the judge. Lily Potter and Bellatrix Lestrange set aside their differences to try to both insult and curse him.
After much deliberation, where many names, including but not limited to Professor Binns, the Minister Madam Grace, Professor Slughorn (Alexa didn't know who that was but apparently both Bellatrix and Lily had been part of a club of his), Ollivander, the imprisoned Grindelwald (a strong candidate and unanimously a better choice than Ollivander) and even Tom the Bartender were put forward, it was decided that this was an Internal affair of the Black family in Hogwarts.
And so Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait was to be the judge to ensure fair conduct.
Next it was made sure that Bellatrix, Harry, Jon and Vega would definitely participate. And that Hedwig, Rodulphus Lestrange, Lily Potter and Lucius Malfoy definitely wouldn't. The last one from Aunt Bella's side would most likely be a Selwyn.
The Challenging Party generally has to accept the date and time offered by the Challenged. Something which Bellatrix Lestrange didn't fail to stress. She, in fact, wanted an immediate resolution of the conflict. Albus countered that since Jon was officially her Leige, she had challenged his authority in the Betrothal agreement.
All discussion took place completely ignoring the fact that neither Harry nor whoever that Betrothed Selwyn was, were love interests for Lucretia. Nor was the opinion of the prized beauty asked for even once. In fact, this was the first time the Betrothal had even been brought up. It was astonishing how far Magical Britain could fall.
The date was decided to be the 29th of February, 1992. The duel would begin sharp at Noon. Riddle and Snape were to coach the minors (Jon, entering the dispute as a Lord, couldn't be considered one).
By the time all was said and done, Harry had gone on a walk with James for one hour. And other than Nymphadora's oddly timed chuckles, none of the spectators had said a word.
Finally, it was approaching Lunchtime by the time the decisions were finalized. They'd missed History of Magic. Alexa wasn't all that bothered. Apparently, Harry had, on only his second day already found an illegal History Notes Dealer (Mark Wood, Hufflepuff 6th year), between Dawn and when he'd met her two hours later.
Binns's syllabus hadn't changed for the past two centuries (Apparently something to do with improvement in Wizard-Goblin Relations). Life was good.
In Scotland, in September, it rains and rains and rains some more. All year round. Thankfully, sometimes it just looks like its going to rain. Something which makes walking out in the open grounds a welcome activity.
"Ah Hogwarts..."
Or not so welcome. It wasn't that Harry didn't like it. But sometimes James Potter getting lost in childhood reminiscences wasn't all that interesting. And the only things Harry enjoyed were all things interesting.
"When I was young, Hogwarts was like a second home to me, Harry. A Castle of Magic, free of my mother's house rules and my father's uh... House rules."
"Hmm..." Harry was positive he sounded convincing.
"I had a tightly knit group of friends and all these cooperative teachers, I had food better than home, and there were rules made to be broken..."
"Mm Hmm..." Now was this better.
"And Pranks and magic and girls... Oh yes girls. I lived in a protected shell, far away from the evils of the world, with people my own age. And I laughed with them and cried with them."
"Mm Hm Hmm..." Another one for emphasis.
"So I wanted to ask... don't you feel like Hogwarts is a home to you?"
"Hmm..." And back to the beginning. A single sound for fake deliberation.
"Harry, are you listening?"
"Yes yes I am. Definitely listening. Hogwarts is OK, I guess. I mean it doesn't feel all that homely, but I guess that's true more for Gryffindors than poor old Slytherins." Rebels rebel together. And cunning bastards fight it out among themselves.
James nodded sadly. Neither of his parents were truly happy with Harry's sorting but both agreed that they'd avoided an acocalypse when Gryffindor circumvented Harry.
"What I'm trying to say is... Why are you trying to take away my heir, my second home, half my political capital and maybe even my wife in one fell swoop?"
"Just that I'm trying to do that doesn't mean I'll succeed. Don't worry Dad. Now where's Uncle Sirius?"
Harry had really expected Sirius to come to fight Bellatrix. Arcturus had written a 150 paged book solely on the tales of their rivalry. And half of it was true too!
"Sirius was sent to France. For the establishment of Frontier lines and Alarm wardlines. They anticipate that's where the Vampire Queen strikes next."
"Ah!" Harry kicked away at a pebble and tried to follow it's trajectory in the air.
'Annika, you power hungry daughter of a Veela.' His appointed Queen of Vampires was becoming quite tyrannical. 'Well atleast she's not as boring as Good Ol' Dracula.'
"So when is the Bulgarian ministry falling?"
"Oh they'll fight for now, alright. But give it an year, and maybe six months more and the Ministry will fall like a stone in water."
"And France has the next largest Veela community."
"Yeah. And from what I've heard, she definitely not stopping with Bulgaria. But don't change the subject. How sure are you of winning this thing?"
"Pretty sure?" That's all Harry was willing to give.
"Is that good enough?"
It would definitely have been good enough just two days ago. But then Harry ended up owing his life to Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy. And the Dark Lady, of course. It had been a journey of revelations for Harry.
"Not particularly. It'll do. What does Mum think?"
James gazed down at him patronisingly. "Harry, you know pretty damn well what your Mum thinks. And it doesn't bode well for you. In fact, I'll have to lie and lie and lie again for you to come out of this alive."
Harry had, of course, expected an explosive response from Lily Potter. But he just couldn't allow Bellatrix Leatrange to continue being a thorn in his side. And the other benifits were to be considered too.
"Why are you supporting me anyway?" Harry knew why, naturally.
"Well my Dad supported me in my teenage rebellion..."
"And the Hate sex?" 'And makeup sex, comfort sex and Hate again sex.'
They'd always had a rather passionate relationship.
"And the Hate sex. But Harry, remember speed never matters with Bella. She'll always be faster."
"I know, Dad. None of us will be duelling Bellatrix Lestrange. If things go according to plan, we won'thave to take out our wands for her."
Harry saw the time on his watch.
"Enough of that. Let's go back. Mum can insult Aunt Bella for only so long before she gets bored."
And you don't. Want a bored. Lily Potter. Ever.
4th September, 1991
"Are you sure you can depend on her, Harry?"
"Believe me, Alexa, in reality she's better. Much better." Alexa didn't look like she believed him.
"She's a horrible teacher. And Pansy agreed to that when she heard me. Pansy."
Pansy had apparently decreed in the Dorms that Alexa was a filthy mudblood and should be treated as a mudblood. And Alexa didn't happen to exactly agree with her. A conflict of opinions if there ever was one.
Not that Harry was all that worried. Pansy didn't look like she could handle a punch. Harry knew exactly how thin but tough kids looked like and Pansy was exactly what you'd expect to see in a Pureblood pest.
She also sucked at the Wanded Arts ...and pretty much everything else. The one thing she boasted of was a pureblood upbringing which was really overrated 'round these parts and something which had been drilled into Alexa by Lily Potter and Jon Black.
Finally, for those idiots who cared, Alexa was far better looking. And kinder. And smarter.
All of which meant that to Harry, Pansy Parkinson was an insignificant obstacle.
They were discussing the DADA class, of course. The class began with Harry holding Emily's hand in front of all the Slytherins, and trying something for the last time.
"Emily Riddle is the Dark Lady. This one right here." He pointed her out for the benefit of the class.
He also asked a confirmatory question. "You are, aren't you?"
"Well, when you put it that way, Harry... No I don't think so."
The class also didn't think so. It didn't consider so too. Harry sat down in his place.
Then Emily went on to explain the various uses of the Finite, the Enneverate and gave a beginner's notes on the Flippindo, the Knockback Jinx. She had the class try to reverse minor Magical mishaps, while regaling the pressure one felt Magical combat. She then called Harry to the front of the class and performed the Knockback three times on him. It hurt.
Then she dismissed the class.
"I asked you not to talk about my past, Harry. It's getting ridiculous, really."
It was getting ridiculous. If what they'd just had wasn't a Perfect preliminary defence class, Harry didn't know what was. And no one else thought so. But Harry was worried about other things.
"You know how you made both Charms and Transfiguration suck for me? Are you going to do that for other classes too?"
Emily didn't have to think it over. "No. That debilititation's just for wanded studies. You may excel in Herbology and Potions all you want."
Harry chuckled mirthlessly. Yeah that's gonna happen.
"So I heard you're free now, Harry."
"No, Ms Riddle, you heard I had detention."
"When?"
"Now. You heard me now. And I have it now. With Filch."
"Yes, I heard that. And not just now. But don't worry. I took over from him."
Harry smiled. Finally things were looking up. There was no way in hell he was going to regret escaping a Filchy Detention.
"What are we learning? What do you want me to do first?"
Emily assumed an innocent countenance. Now Harry knew that if your personal Dark Lady tutor appears sheepish, you should run for your life before she gets to ask... "Well, I need a favour." ...that.
Too late. "You see, it sometimes gets a bit cold at night. So I need some logs."
"How many?" Harry readied himself for a ridiculously overtaxing punishment.
"I think a Round 50 will do just fine."
Are you fucking–
7 Hours of Backbreaking Hardwork and Dinner Later
"–kidding me! Who the hell needs Fifty bloody logs from the bloody edge of the bloody Forbidden Forest manually in a bloody Magical school?"
No, Harry couldn't run off into the forest to meet, say Ghost (And ask him to carry the bloody logs). She was a genius Dark Lady and so, of course, she'd set up perimeter wards. "That too from a person who can't levitate them."
That was another problem. You see, had she waited for a month or half more, Professor Flitwick would've taught Harry the miraculous Wingardium Leviosa. Which would've, with lots of practice, pretty much solved Harry's problem.
She also asked Harry not to use his wheelbarrow, or his bicycle. Or a rope. Or Thestral. Or all the 4 other ways Harry could employ. And so Harry had wasted 7 hours in ensuring that his mortal enemy didn't feel chilly in September.
It had, in retrospect, been quite indicative of how... sinister she could be. They continued climbing up the steps. And the pain in Harry's legs showed no signs of receding.
"Well? Say something. Atleast disagree with me."
"What can I say, Harry? I told you she sucks. I can't think why Dumbledore hired her."
'For that matter, Neither can I. But it's absolutely not due to her bloody incompetence.'
"Enough about me. How's your life?"
"Well Millicent Bulstrode keeps well away from me, Pansy, as I've already told you, leaves no stone unturned in trying to be a perfect bitch."
"I can hear you, filthy mudblood." The Slytherins were of course, just ahead of them. Pansy, in Harry's opinion was more envious than angry.
"I know that. I want you to. And I know you're a bit interested in Aldaine. Well, neither Vesper nor Daphne will talk to me." True to her word, they ignored the mention of their names.
At quarter to Eleven at night, the Slytherins reached the top of the Astronomy tower for their classes. To be taught by Aurora Sinistra.
"Welcome to First year Astronomy, Class." She didn't welcome the whole 'class', to be precise. Her eyes deliberately passed over Harry. It was so evident that some Slytherins, those opportunistic bastards (and bastardesses) didn't fail to sneer. Hufflepuffs were mostly confused.
'I mean you steal one wand. Twice.'
"So, let's start with a few introductory questions. Who can tell me the location of the Orion nebula in the sky?"
Harry's hand went up into the air. And no one else's followed.
"No one?"
'Ah! How doth your snubbing pierceth my gentle heart, Aurora...'
"Well, maybe point out the Dog star?"
Alexa's hand went up too.
"Yes Ms Watson?" So apparently only Harry was to be blamed.
Alexa pointed at Harry, "You can ask him, Ma'am."
"I can, Ms Watson. I know that. Anyone else? Maybe the location of the Polaris?"
Harry's hand was joined by 13 others. Aurora chose Hannah Abbott of Hufflepuff.
"Please ask Harry, Ma'am," she said. Oh these loyal Hufflepuffs (Harry had, by not ignoring the house been made an honary member).
Most Hufflepuffs and even some Slytherins seemed to agree. Other than Selwyn and Parkinson, that is.
Aurora sighed and looked at Harry for the first time. "Yes, Mr Potter?"
Harry moved to the viewing corner of the tower and pointed out Sirius, "Brightest star in the sky, 8.6 light years away, at RA 6h 45m 9s Dec -16 42′ 58, in the Canis Major constellation. Of course, the three stars of the Orion Belt point out the location of Sirius."
"Just South of the Orion Belt in visibility, lies the Orion Nebula, 1344 miles away from earth and the closest region of massive star formation. Bright and beautiful at RA 5h 35m 17s Dec -5 23′ 28.″
"..."
"A-and the Polaris?"
"The Pole star? Straight to the North." Harry pointed straight to the North.
"Just that. No... add ons?"
"Nope. Never really liked Old Polaris. A silly middle name if you ask me." Harry observed a second of silence for Jon along with others.
"So you like Mathematical Astronomy?"
"It's the only kind Non-Magical's have."
"Hmm...I'm still interested in asking you a few questions, Harry. Let's begin with the Horsehead Nebula..."
Exactly one hour later
The 4 Slytherin males were gawking at Harry, the 4 girls looked contemplative and Alexa equal measures of proud and jealous.
Apparently, Harry had enough knowledge on stars to score an Astronomy Mastery. His love of the night sky coupled with the obsession of the Blacks and a general boredom during the stay-at-home months of Raventree Hall had accidentally made Astronomy his best subject.
Which made even an enraged Aurora Sinistra admire him.
"So what happened to you there, Harry?" she sounded genuinely curious. It was an improvement over completely hostile.
The reference was, of course, obvious.
Harry took off his glasses. "I just wanted to impress you, Ma'am. I-i was afraid of rejection from the first of the Hogwarts Staff I met."
He was sure his facial arrangement then could be used to define innocence. Harry had, of course, practiced and perfected it for minutes Infront of a mirror. He was also sure that if he looked in a mirror, his eyes would be glowing purple now.
Her face melted and the last vestiges of rage vanished away. She came forward and engulfed Harry in a hug. "But Hogwarts would always accept you, Harry. As will I. Never fear rejection. This is your second home."
"I-i know, Ma'am." He sniffed a bit. Aurora Sinistra was extremely susceptive to Harry's eyes, it seemed.
Looking over Aurora's shoulder, Alexa's face showed exactly what she thought of Harry's sudden birth of conscience. There's also the fact that when a sexy teacher hugs you, you aren't exactly liable to get emotional. A Hormonal response is more likely.
Meanwhile, Harry's arm carefully exchanged his teacher's wand with a similar one crafted once in his boredom on the Summer Cruise. Sometimes, he agreed with Alexa. His insanity could be an insufferable liability. It didn't mean it wasn't fun.
"When are you confronting them?"
Harry was on his way back to his sleeping place when she found him.
"The Slytherin boys?"
"Mm Hmm... you can't keep sleeping on a secluded 7th floor window sill forever. It's bad for business."
'Whose business? Yours?'
Hedwig flew in from the said window sill and perched on his shoulder. She throughly ignored Emily as she began a soft melody. It calmed Harry, somewhat.
"Sleep, Ms Riddle, must always come at a place one feels most relaxed in." 'And all the boys are out for my blood."
"Then make them your allies, Harry."
"Don't fool around. You know why I'm stalling."
"Um Hmm... Severus can be a nasty pain in the–"
"–and he controls quite a lot of the Slytherin PR."
"I didn't think you were one to play it safe?"
"No, you thought exactly that. These little inflammatory tricks won't work with me, Honey."
"I know. And I still need you alive till the 29th of February. So, as a gift for keeping me warm today, take this."
And straight out of her bra, she took out an envelope. And handed it to Harry. Who stared at her, even as his hands opened the envelope... and tossed it out into the night air. Hedwig, who'd been crooning all the time flew off to retrieve it.
"What exactly do you hope to achieve, when you do these things?"
"Just to keep you on your toes. I'd hoped you'd keep it, you know. As a souvenir, atleast. Now read it, will you?"
Harry read the rather lengthy letter. If it could be called that. And his eyebrows rose with every single line.
"How sure are you of its authenticity? And the your reasons for its irritating length too." The contents were, one the whole, quite long.
"I'm completely sure. Now, I could just say I don't want you to sleep. But as you must've guessed, all of these are to learned. We can't have any... distractions can we?"
"You know that I'll investigate madly how you got hold of this... now."
"I know you already have thousands of theories on my source. But all in good time, Harry. I also know why you're changing your sleeping places. Trust me, finding clues on your lost little Third Year will require an alternative approach."
"You know entirely too much." Had she somehow gotten hold of the book of Blackmail? With the Protections Arcturus put on it, that was unlikely...
'Unless she was the source of intel. But why?' Harry had, of course, been trying to search for the Mysterious Book of Records.
They had reached Harry's sleeping bag. And she walked on as Harry settled himself in for a looong night, yet again.
"And Harry. It takes a lot of trouble to procure these things. You'd better handle the acting part well."
"I will."
"I'd say Goodnight, but we both know you aren't getting any sleep tonight."
Harry didn't get any sleep that night.
Lunch, 5th September, 1991
Yaaawwn!
"You didn't come to pick me up today." Alexa didn't sound mad however.
"Why, Mr Potter, trouble in paradise?" The Hufflepuff table meant they ate with Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones. And some other Hufflepuffs including that year's invisible Hufflepuff Girl. She was, in fact, not visible. Or even around there.
"More like I dinn' feel up to it." Harry mixed some more coffee and downed it in a single gulp. Four day's lack of sleep. Going on to five.
"Harry, are those studying notes? What's happening to you? You aren't meant to study." Jon had it right. Harry wasn't the most studious person unless he were interested in a topic... or now, when his life was on the line.
Susan Bones butted in. "You know we're hearing all kinds of things about you. How your Charms and Transfig isn't working. And how you are apparently an Astronomy Savant. And Hannah saw you teaching Mandy from Ravenclaw how to make a needle. Which you couldn't Transfig in class. You couldn't do your Lumos with Flitwick. And your colour varying charm works just fine."
"And we can safely say that you're not a Herbology prodigy," said Neville, still slightly cross with him.
Harry continued to insist to his friends that cutting off a creepy looking plant that he felt had touched him the wrong way was well within his rights. That it turned out to be some obscure rare species was completely not his fault.
Sprout gave him two more detentions for that. And took away 30 points.
"That was self-defence."
"Harry, the offender was a foot long flowering plant."
"Whatever. I know that Draco's done much worse."
After his parents sent him a coded letter on exactly what they thought of his house and his 'fraternising with the enemy,' (something to do with Harry's challenge) Draco had gone Rogue in Herbology.
And been sent off to the Hospital Wing 10 seconds later when he grappled with the wrong Venomous Tentacula.
Jon didn't agree, "Well his plant's still living at least. Now what are you studying?"
"Miss Bones, what would you say if I answered Potions?"
Susan scoffed, "I'd say that you better get back to studying, Mr Potter. Professor Snape won't be nearly as forgiving as McGonagall."
Headmaster's Office
Post Dawn, 2nd September, 1991
Severus looked around the room he'd woken up in less than a second ago.
The Headmaster's Office should in Severus's opinion be an intimidating place. Not the Circus Albus had made of it. And don't even get him started on the portraits. Snape knew they caused more disturbance than lent advice. They, along with that Flame-coloured phoenix currently staring at him, should just be thrown into a Hogwarts attic. Warded against Phoenix travel. And left to rot.
"For all the hatred you bear Fawkes, you two do have the exact same eyes."
Snape quickly got up from his seat to turn and face Dumbledore, "And beady black eyes, I suppose must be the new suggestive features for those seeking companionship."
"Oh no. For that I'd recommend just sitting around in Muggle Coffee bars. The girls these days, Severus, often frequent there. I'll even consent to be your wingman."
"Why am I here, Albus?"
"You're here so that you may suppress some of the hatred you bear Harry Potter. We really don't want you riled up all year, do we?" No, Snape didn't want to bear anyone enough hatred for a Crucio. Obvious humane reasons aside, it was bad from a psychological standpoint.
"And you care not for Potter's fate?" His classes wouldn't be pleasant if Snape had his way.
Albus corrected the configuration of one of his many eccentric instruments as the smoke it was puffing out changed to colourless from Green.
"I believe, Severus, that with the kind of luck and grit that student has, I won'tneedto."
Snape's wand, meanwhile, reached towards his temple as he felt the memories of the night rise to the surface.
And as the negativity, the anger and the were thrown back, Severus recalled the fear he had seen in Potter's eyes when he made some baseless accusations.
And his eyes darkened and rose to meet Albus's. "What can you tell me about the Excalibur robbery, Albus?"
Potions Class, The Dungeons
5th September, 1991
"–ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
Snape took measure of the class, from his confident Godson partnered with Neville Longbottom, shaking to the tip of his shoes, to Watson, attentive like Lord Black her partner, the frightened Bulstrode and Nott and pretty much every Gryffindor other than that strange Russian girl, Igragimova and, of course, the Graces.
And in the middle of it all, the Potter twins, slightly manic, slightly tired and mostly insufferable, playing Tic-tac-toe on a piece of parchment.
"Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"The Drought of Living Death," answered Jim Potter and then went back to his game.
"Incorre–"
Harry Potter cut him off mid-sentence!
He spoke in a clear, precise manner, yet fast enough that Snape found it difficult to cut him off, "FIIIINE, if you insist, Professor, I'll prove it you. The Drought was first used in 1349 by potionmaker Franklin Emerarth. Now old Frank wasn't the most... chaste of husbands. You see, he used to sneak around his wife and visit his neighbour, Wendy the Bendy for... less than pure reasons. When his wife, one day, almost caught him cheating, he knew he had to do some research."
Potter had moved from his position in the middle of the class and calmly walked to the front.
"Now lore says he worked 21 hours a day, 7 days a week for 7 months but all that's up for interpretation. What is true is that Frankie mixed up the herbs used for a mild sleeping drought, one of which was wormwood with Magically enriched Asphodel, the flowershe offered to his grandmother's grave.
"And a few beans here, some simmering cauldrons with shimmering fumes there and after experimenting 30 or so times on his pet Hamster, Bernie, he had the Draught of Living Death."
Potter now took out a thin book from his bag and opened a particular page, which he passed to Thalia Grace and she brought to Snape. Potter went towards the Potion cupboards now.
"Now every evening, he'd add some of the Drought in his wife's dinner, and she'd sleep well till the morning. In fact, most magical parameters of her living would've come up negative. He went on to bend Wendy all he desired."
"The Draught, considered more complex than the Polyjuice but highly valued as it's harmless other than the intended effect, is used by Aurors to use on Dark Wizards, who may use it back on them, by medical professionals as long term anesthesia and sometimes even prescribed to insomniacs. It's dose can be easily controlled too and it's Dark colour is refreshingly exotic."
Potter took out a small potted plant and kept it on the nearest desk. "Now this is the 'Magical' Asphodel plant, freshly stolen from Herbology, yesterday. Please value it well, Professor. It costs you 30 Slytherin points, paid in advance. Sprout believes it's lost its life so please return it. And fresh from the Potions cupboard is the infusion of Wormwood, easier to extract than smell."
Potter left the plant where it was and passed the wormwood for sampling to the students.
"Finally, one may wonder why a Potions Professor would rather question a First year on a NEWT level Potions topic on his first day of classes, but I don't think Madam Marchbanks thought of personal Vendettas when she was approving the Syllabus."
"I have already offered you an avenue of battle, Professor. Please patiently wait for my obliteration at Auntie Bella's hand. And some of my many friends want to learn your subject and experience ensnared senses. I don't profess to know why."
"The recipe of the Cure For Boils Potion is written in the book Thalia passed you there, Professor. Along with some safety guidelines too. Feel free to copy. And maybe add. Now, why don't we get on with our studies, while both of us wonder how I knew the question you were going to ask, beforehand, SIR."
Snape fought the urge to snarl and beat Harry Potter to death. "ONE HUNDRED POINTS FRO–"
"Slytherin? Our beloved house and it's beloved heritage? Or you could gimme an year of Detention? Have you heard of the name Bellatrix Lestrange? She would be after your hide if she learns that you've been playing with her prey before she could've a long hard bite. And such an unfairness to a Noble Heir won't be tolerated as well by the Board as your usual transgressions against Gryffindors are."
Severus felt the pace of his breathing increase and his shaking hands sought to throw the nearest object he saw against the wall. It was, incidentally, Potter's book. Potter stopped him before he could do that.
"SIR! Some respect from a Potions Master to another. My mother wrote it."
And indeed when Snape turned the book back to its his first page, hands shaking still, there in that oh so familiar handwriting was its Title...
1st Year Potions, For Jim and Harry,
Lily
And Snape sat down on his desk with his head held in his hands as he saw where he'd been going with this, and how near Harry Potter had once again been to receiving his first Crucio.
And he understood that Harry Potter was one of those creatures who required a rather delicate handling. It was better still to completely ignore him.
His head rose to look at the class, themselves going through a myriad of emotions: Shock, rage, awe...
"Well! Why aren't you all copying that down?" All of what Potter had said was unfortunately true to the last letter.
There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter."
Jim Potter nodded resignedly at Snape as Harry Potter smiled and went back to sit beside his brother.
"And Heir Potter, a month's detention."
His smile didn't falter.
Well after the class had been dismissed, with the Potters blasting their Potions before Longbottom melted his cauldron but after Aldaine, Watson and Igragimova submitted their perfect samples and the first Weekend of the Hogwarts year began, Homer, Snape's assigned House Elf found him reading a Handwritten Potions textbook with an Asphodel in bloom in front of him.
As he left the Tea tray for the Professor and gleefully went to call some of the Potion cleaning crew, a stray thought entered his mind...
'Asphodels... They're Lilies, aren't they?'
He forgot all about Flowers halfway to the kitchens though.
A/N: Yes, as most good Harry Potter researchers will tell you, Asphodels are Lilies. Snape and Harry aren't the best of buddies now but there's a tentative truce where Snape ignores Harry and Harry keeps his mouth shut.
Explanation: Another reason for Harry to challenge Bella 'n Vega is that if he's hurt/impeded by their associates in the following six months, he gets to claim that his chances of fighting were jeopardized. And Warriors like Bella hate these sort of accusations by already weak opponents.
Someone asked 'bout what happened in Silver Lining. It's a teaching method which I'll explain better later on.
From Feb till July I've been/ will be giving lots of exams so slow updates.
It isn't my best chapter but I hope it suffices. I also updated (Bk0Ch7) Chap 9.
Thanks to a suggestion by a Reviewer.
Flying next.