THE POTTER RESURGENCE
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J. K ROWLING.
Hardwin Potter snickered to himself as he saw his twin brother trying and failing to look regal while their mother fused over him. It never got old seeing his usually prim and proper brother losing his composure when faced with the force known as Lily Potter.
His brother caught him snickering and directed a fierce glare at him which didn't stay for long as Lily grabbed his head and planted a large kiss on both Harry's cheeks. His face heat up and Hardwin didn't feel any pitty for his brother given the fact that he had just gone through the same treatment.
Only Harry's had been even more thorough as Hardwin suspected their mother secretly enjoyed ruffling Harry's proverbial feathers.
"You will write as often as you can, right Harry?"
"Of course, mom." Harry assured smoothly, the earlier embarrassment seeming to have disappeared. "I imagine Hedwig is real excited to get about her duties."
"That's my boy." Lily gushed and Hardwin resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Now you better get going or you will miss the best seats. Oh and don't forget to look after each other you two!"
He did roll his eyes this time. It would likely end up with Harry looking after him more often than not rather than the other way round. After another round of hugs, the twins left their fretting mother behind and boarded the Hogwarts Express.
Hardwin huffed as he heaved his trunk after Harry who was comfortably carrying his own without any trouble. He remembered Harry convincing Sirius to charm his trunk feather-light yesterday and Hardwin had laughed at him, convinced in his knowledge that their mom wouldn't refuse to charm his the next day.
He had been wrong. Again.
As if reading his thoughts, green eyes flickered towards him and he could see a light smirk of amusement playing on Harry's lips. One of the few times his brother showed genuine emotion.
"Harry!" He whined, knowing how it annoyed his brother. "A little help here!"
"Cease your whining! It's unbecoming of you." Harry hissed at him before the smirk came back. "Besides, it should teach you not to revel in my suffering."
"But you do it all the time!" And it was true, Harry sure enjoyed it when it was Hardwin that was the subject of embarrassment.
Harry paused as if to consider that statement before his eyes took in his sweating form and they started twinkling! "Yeah, you're probably right. Please do keep up, brother."
And with that, he turned on his heel and continued walking. Hardwin sputtered for a few seconds, having been sure that the fear of being embarrassed by his appearance would have been enough for Harry to help him but clearly he had been wrong, again.
Sighing, almost dramatically as Harry would likely say, Hardwin started dragging his trunk after his brother. He had barely taken a step when he was stopped by a loud gasp.
"Bloody hell! It's the bloody-boy-who-fricking-lived!" He turned around at the voice just as the person made to hug him only to trip on their feet and slam into him. Hardwin flailed around, grasping at air for a second before the pair fell down, he of course was down and took the most impact.
"Get off me, Tonks!" Hardwin huffed at the giggling witch who scrambled to her feet. "What's wrong with you!"
"Nothing." She giggled. "Just wanted to see the look on your face and Merlin, was it worth it."
"Can you help me up, now?" Tonks gave him her hand and pulled him to his feet. She stepped back and tripped, sending the both of them back to the floor and somehow, Hardwin once again managed to end up down. "How do I get myself in these situations?"
"Trust me, a whole bunch of wizards would kill to be in this position." Tonks said from where she was comfortably lying on top of him, laughing when his face heat up.
"Hilarious." Another voice drawled and the both of them turned to look at Harry standing next to them while he levelled them with a stare.
"Oh, wotcha Harry!" Tonks grinned, not even bothering to move from her position. "Would you like to join us?"
Harry simply raised an eyebrow at her. "If you two are done embarrassing yourselves, perhaps you should get up. You're blocking the hallway."
"Bollocks!" Tonks jumped to her feet, somehow keeping herself from tripping. "I'll see you guys later."
She suddenly transformed into Harry's double, drawing gasps from the waiting group of students at her transformation. The new Harry sneered at them, spun on his heel and stalked his way down the hallway in what Hardwin thought was a perfect imitation of his brother. Well, untill the new Harry tripped and nearly crashed into the door to the other car.
"Hilarious." Harry drawled from his position next to Hardwin, flicked his wand at both trunks and stalked his way down the hallway, the trunk floating behind him while completely ignoring the snickers from the assembled group of students.
Hardwin couldn't supress a smile as he ran after his brother who was doing his best to imitate Tonks. And they said Harry had no sense of humor.
Harry closed the book he had been reading and sighed quietly as his mind tried to make sense of what he had been reading. He knew he was smarter than most children his age and while he wasn't a genius by any stretch, he sure was close to one thanks to his very strong memory.
His mother had called it photographic. When Harry was three, Lily had discovered that her son had a very strong memory. He was capable of remembering something with complete clarity even if it had happened like three weeks ago. The scholar in her had been giddy and she had done everything in her power to understand it.
She had studied her son untill she found out what his limits were. She found out that anything he saw started fading after two weeks but then disappeared completely after one month and he went back to a normal memory. She had searched for ways to boost it and found no other way apart from occulmency.
When Harry and Hardwin reached eight, Lily started teaching them the basics on Occulmency. Starting earlier than was recommended, the identical twins had lapped up the lessons, wishing to please their mother and Lily wanting them to be the best they can had driven them relentlessly.
The side effect had been for the boys to mature faster than their age. Harry more than his brother as he was the heir and strived to be worthy of the position. While Hardwin learned to clear his mind and by this point he was capable of detecting a leglimency probe, Harry took it a head. He mastered clearing his mind, organizing his nemerous memories and by this point was at the stage of building occulmency barriers.
With his mastery of the art, Harry learned to control his emotions. This was a skill he knew he was going to need as heir and later Lord of the Ancient and Noble house of Potter as he took his role very seriously. Thanks to his powerful memory, Harry had devoured books in the family library that explained what it meant to be the Lord of House Potter.
He read the numerous journals of the previous lords and books on the wizengamot. Before leaving for Hogwarts, Harry made sure that he understood his place in society, knew what he was entitled to and as well as what is expected of him. Without his father to groom him for the role, Harry did everything in his power to ensure that he would not disappoint him and his ancestors.
A loud insistent knock on the door pulled him out of his recollections and Harry blinked. He glanced at his brother and barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Hardwin had slumped into his seat and was snoring lightly, the book he had been reading, Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2, dangling in his hand.
Harry had made sure that Hardwin was capable of performing all the the spells in the first book and while at Hogwarts, they will be working on book 2 and if all goes well start on the third book before summer next year. Arranging his face in a disappointed frown, Harry jerked his brother awake.
"Hardwin!" Harry snapped. "I thought I told you to read, not sleep."
"Wha...I'm reading!" He sat up, furiously wiping the drool with the sleeve of his robe and concentrated on the book in his lap like he had numerous times in the library back at home.
Harry observed his brother for a few minutes before he snorted. "The book is upside down, Hardwin."
"Oh...bugger." he sighed and closed the book. "This is a waste of time. We are supposed to relax before arriving at the school, not drown ourselves in books!"
He suddenly stood up and headed for the door. "I am going to look for Neville."
He pulled at the door but it didn't budge. Flicking his wrist, his wand appeared in his hand and he pointed it at the lock. "Alohomora!"
The door clicked and before Harry could barate him for not casting such a simple spell non-verbally, the door was ripped open and Hardwin came face to face with an angry eleven-year-old witch.
"Why did you lock the door?" The bushy-haired girl demanded, glaring at the boy-who-lived.
"Wha...I did not!"
"Yes you did." She insisted. "I tried opening it but it refused to budge and knocked like three times but you refused to open! I was about to call a perfect when you unlocked it and I would have done it earlier if Neville hadn't stopped me!"
"Neville?" Hardwin asked peering around the witch at the slightly pudgy boy.
"Hi, Hardwin."
"Who is she?" Hardwin asked, pointing at the girl who huffed irritably, crossing her arms across her chest.
"I'm right here, you know?"
"Which still does nothing to tell me of you identity." The messy haired boy retorted before mirroring her with his arms. "Well?"
"Well, what?"
"What is your name then?" Hardwin asked in the same voice and the witch sputtered for a second, glared at him and spun on her heel.
"Come on, Neville." She told the blonde. "This was a waste of time."
"Uhm, actually..." Neville started hesitantly. "I think I'll stay with Hardwin for a while, I'm sure Travor will show up at some point."
"Fine." The girl huffed and left.
"She is bloody mental, that one." Hardwin grumbled as he led Neville into the compartment. "How did you even end up with her?"
"She is not really that bad." Neville said with a small smile. "You two could actually get along pretty well."
"What, no way!" Hardwin protested. "I would've probably gone insane if I stayed near her for more than a minute."
"That would imply that you weren't insane in the first place."
"Shut up, Harry!"
"And what do we have here?"
Hardwin looked up from their game to glare at the intruder, his wrist itching as he resisted the urge to summon his wand from its holster. He was about to snap at him when he glanced at Harry and decided to let his brother handle this.
"A game called chess, Malfoy. Do you wish to join us?" Harry drawled as he physically moved his knight, not even bothering to look up. "Unless you have no idea what I'm talking about?"
"I know what chess is, Potter!" Malfoy sneered. "And I wouldn't lower myself to playing with filth like you who can't even play proper wizard-chess."
"Well, you're welcome to watch of course." Harry replied calmly even though his voice took on a dangerous tilt with his next words. "Unless, you have somewhere else to be?"
"Are you threatening me, Potter!"
"Now what could have possibly given you that idea?"
"You think you're very sma_"
"Listen, Malfoy." Harry interrupted the blonde, looking at him for the first time. "We have two hours untill we reach Hogsmeade and I would rather finish this game before that. So please do us a favor and leave us in peace, will you?"
The look in Harry's eyes was clear that it wasn't a request and had Hardwin been in Malfoy's place, he would be pissing his pants. Malfoy for his part took a step back before throwing a sneer Harry's way to save face and exited the compartment, his bodyguards following behind.
Harry flicked his wand at the door and it clicked closed. He flicked his wrist gracefully and the wand slid back into his holster before raising an eyebrow at Hardwin.
"No need to look so smug."
Harry's eyebrow climbed even further, his lips twitching in amazement.
"First years!" Hagrid bellowed, holding the lamp while standing over everyone else. "First years, over here!"
Hardwin stumbled towards the half-giant along with the rest of the first years. At the edge of the lake, they got into boats and Hardwin sat with Harry, Neville and Susan Bones, one of the few of this year's firsties that he knew of.
He gasped when he saw Hogwarts Castle and his gasp was echoed around the boat except for Harry but even then his eyes batrayed the awe he felt at the castle though it disappeared quickly. They shuffled after Hagrid and were led to the castle before a great door on which Hagrid knocked loudly.
Professor McGonagall opened to receive them and led them through the door into some kind of entrance hall. Hardwin listened to her welcome speech even though it wasn't that important given that he knew everything he was talking about. Harry had even managed to blackmail Sirius into telling them how students were sorted.
When she finished, she left them promising to come for them later and the students started muttering to themselves wondering how the sorting was done. Hardwin meanwhile was wondering where the hat would place him.
He really wanted to end up in Gryffindor; he had a legacy a head of him that he needed to live up to and the first step would be going into Gryffindor. Both his parents were in Gryffindor as well as Sirius. He couldn't find a better example of great people than them.
"Relax, brother." Harry said softly as if sensing his thoughts. "I could cut you into pieces and the smallest piece would have more Gryffindor than everyone standing around us."
His brother's words, as morbid as they were calmed him down and he found himself relaxing. He had never met any one with as keen an eye as Harry and if he believed him to be a Gryffindor, then who was he to think otherwise.
He had learned long ago that Harry was in a completely diffent league and he resigned himself to that fact. Competing with Harry never boded well for anyone and Hardwin resigned himself to trying to live up to his brother and he was completely fine with that.
That didn't mean he couldn't be the best man that he can. He would show all these first years what it meant to be the brother of Harry Potter.
"Potter, Hardwin."
Harry watched his brother walk towards the stool with a proud smile. Hardwin strolled forward with a grace he usually only applied in their mock duels while completely disregarding the whispers about the boy-who-lived and his famous scar that was thankfully obscured by the bangs of his hair.
He sat down and before the hat covered his head, Harry caught his emerald eyes and gave an encouraging nod before they were obstructed. A hush fell on the Great hall as everyone seemed to wait for the Sorting hat's verdict.
Harry wasn't overly concerned as he knew exactly where Hardwin was headed. His words to him earlier had been the truth, the boy was Gryffindor through and through. While he displayed the traits of the other houses a couple of times, the most dominating were clearly Gryffindor and sure enough the hat bellowed and Hardwin's ropes got gold and red decorations.
"Potter, Harry!"
Harry walked forward, ignoring whisperings of 'another Potter', 'boy-who-lived's brother' and 'obviously a Gryffindor!'. The fools seemed to think that just because he was a Potter made him an open book. Well, they were going to get a nasty surprise.
Just like Draco, the hat had barely landed on his head before shouting_
"SLYTHERIN!"
The hall was completely quiet, clearly surprised and some even thinking they had heard wrong bore Tonks let out a loud wolf whistle. She then literally shrunk on herself when everyone turned to look at her until she was looking like a first-year. But it had broken the spell and there were a couple of claps from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw table as well as Gryffindor from Hardwin and Neville.
"I think I speak for the majority of everyone in this hall when I saw that you surprised us, Potter." An older boy said the moment Harry took his seat at the Slytherin table and offered his hand. "Adrian Pucey, third year."
"Potter Harry, bit I guess that has already been established." Harry replied smoothly, shaking the offered hand. "And you will realize that I'm a man of many surprises as time goes on."
"I should hope so." The boy replied. "You will need a number of them to show that you belong in the den of snakes."
"Trust me, the question of where I belong was never up for consideration."
BOYS' DORMITORY
GRYFFINDOR TOWER.
"I still can believe your brother is a bleeding snake." Hardwin stopped himself as he had been about to close the curtains to his bed. He hadn't talked much with anyone really as they had all been pretty tired after the journey from London.
"What did you say?" He asked, trying to rack his brain for the boy's name. Harry was always trying to break his habit of forgetting people's names that he felt weren't important.
"Your brother." The redhead said while glancing at the other boys as if for support. "How can he batray you like that? Of all houses he decided to go to Slytherin!"
"Listen Ronald." Hardwin said hoping that was the boy's name and going by the lack of protest, he had at least got this one right. Harry would be proud. "My brother is in Slytherin because he embodies its traits and I'm perfectly fine with it. If you have a problem with that, you're welcome to take it up to him. Goodnight everyone."
With that, he pulled on the curtains and slipped into his bed. He barely remembered to put an alert charm, something Harry had grilled him to learn ever since they got their wands before he slumped on the bed and two seconds later he was already asleep. But not before he heard Neville speak.
"I wouldn't recommend it though." The blonde said. "I have known Harry since he was a boy and I'm telling you, I wouldn't even think of confronting him if I had the entire first year class behind me."
SLYTHERIN TOWER
BOYS' DORMITORY
"So, you're the boy-who-lived's brother." Blaise Zabini stated staring at Harry.
"Yes." Harry answered his roommate. "Will that be a problem?"
"I should hope not." Blaise replied. "Will it?"
Harry's lips twitched into a smirk.
"I guess we shall see about that, won't we?"
"Yes." He replied, entering. "I believe we shall."
3rd SEPTEMBER 1991
Great Hall, Hogwarts.
Hello Hardwin,
I'll forgive you for not writing me as soon as you reached as I had greatly underestimated your fame. A welcome Party! A procession wherever you go! I'm honestly having a hard time believing McGonagall would let that happen, but then again you are a special case.
Congratulations on getting in Gryffindor by the way. I'm so proud of you son and I know your father would be too. I can't say much and just hope you will remember this time and not have Harry make for you ridiculous excuses.
Oh and I started working the day you guys left and things are going smoothly and I haven't been drowned in loneliness yet. Write back soon, I want to hear all about your classes.
Love, Mom.
P.S Padfoot said hi but he couldn't write. And please tell Harry that he needs to come up with better excuses worth a Slytherin.
Hardwin sighed in relief after reading the letter. He had completely forgotten to write and he had thought she was mad when Ares brought the letter. Apparently, Harry had been happy enough to make excuses for him even if they weren't strong enough. A precession? How does he even come up with something like that.
While it was partly true as students stared at him wherever he went, stopping and pointing while whispering behind his back or straight up coming at him to ask him stupid questions. It wasn't to the level that Harry was suggesting.
Then again, Hardwin thought, Harry always had a gift of exaggerating and understatements. He glanced at the Slytherin table and could see his brother seated amongst the first years. As if sensing his eyes on him, identical green eyes flickered up and stared at him with a twinkle in his eye clearly having an idea what was in the letter.
"What's wrong, Potter?" Blaise looked up from his position at Malfoy's drawl. "Missing the table where you rightly belong?"
Potter looked away from the Gryffindor table where he had been looking at his brother and frowned at Draco. Blaise hadn't known his roommate for long, seeing that they had been roommates for only three nights now but he knew that Potter wouldn't take this lying down.
"I'm not sure if you would understand this Draco_" He started seriously with a hint of pity in his voice. "But when one has a sibling, it's only natural to care about their wellbeing."
"Then you are no Snake!" Draco declared smugly.
"Oh?" Potter prompted with a raised eyebrow.
"A snake once it hatches only fends for itself!" Draco said. "It's a lion that cares for those in its pride."
"Is that so?" Potter mused and Blaise could see that the rest were waiting for his answer. "Then why on earth did you just receive a box of sweets from mommy dearest?"
"Wha_" Draco sputtered but Potter didn't let him off.
"I am currently a member of house Slytherin but I was a Potter before that and will still be one when I leave Hogwarts." Potter leaned forward. "Just because Hardwin is a Gryffindor doesn't stop him from being a Potter and thus my responsibility as Heir and later Lord of the Ancient and Most Noble house of Potter."
4th September 1991
Transfiguration Classroom
"Excellent, Ms. Granger!" McGonagall exclaimed from the front of the class and Hardwin frowned. "A little bit more visualization for what you want and you will probably get it in a few tries. Take five points to Gryffindor!"
Hardwin looked at the matchstick infront of him. He hadn't wanted to show off as it would no doubt bring more attention to him but he would not let that insufferable Granger show him up. He tapped the pin and let his magic flow through his wand as he thought of the pin.
He had performed this spell so many times under Harry's insistent tutelage that he could perform it in his slip. Almost instantly, the matchstick was replaced by a perfect needle that glinted in the light of the classroom. He leaned back in satisfaction and jumped when McGonagall spoke up next to him.
"Oh my, Mr. Potter! Not even your father got it in his first class!" She said. "Take ten points for Gryffindor!"
He kept a fairly blank look on his face untill McGonagall left and through his most smug smile at Granger who glared back with equal intensity. He spent the rest of the lesson helping Naville as others but the feelings continued untill the end.
"If that head grows any bigger, you will fly through the ceiling." Neville commented as they left the transfiguration classroom.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Hardwin replied trying his best to mimic Harry's mysterious smile.
Friday 7th September 1991
Outside Potions Classroom
The first week at Hogwarts moved in that same vein. Other than transfiguration, all the other classes were about theory as they were introduced to the magical education. Quite frankly, things were almost boring for Hardwin as most of the theory had been covered with Harry before they had gotten their wands at the start of the year.
He did appreciate another perspective though and realized that Harry hadn't gone as deep in theory as he had initially thought. He had mostly concentrated on practical only delving into the theory for him to have a strong enough grasp to attempt the spell.
Charms had been fun even without doing any spells, DADA was a waste of time, Herbology had been fun as well as Neville had been in his element and History had been a waste of time. He wondered when he would get to meet with Harry and see what he thought.
Right now though, Hardwin was standing along with the other Gryffindor firsties waiting for potions. They had been advised to arrive early if they didn't want to leave the class with negative points.
"Here comes the Snakes." Dean Thomas said and Hardwin looked up from his musings to see the ten Slytherins strolling towards them like they had no care in the world.
Malfoy was infront with his two bookends and Parkinson. The three girls came next and Harry came from behind with Nott and Zabini, the three deep in an argument. Well to Hardwin it looked like Harry was acting as mediator between the other two.
"Well, look at the little Cubs." Malfoy sneered. "Finally got brave enough to visit the scary dungeons?"
"What would you know about bravely, snake?" Ron Weasley snarled.
"Way more than you obviously, Weasel." Draco smirked. "Just as with everything, you always fall short. It must be liberating, never worried of being showed up because you know your place."
Ron pulled out his wand and pointed it at Malfoy, and Hardwin sighed as the rest of the Gryffindors except for him, Neville and Granger followed the ginger. The Slytherins just stared at them while Malfoy had an insufferable smirk on his face.
"And what is going on here?" An oily voice interrupted before anything else could happen and the Gryffindors hurried to hide their wands but the damage was already done as Snape sneered at them. "Fighting in the hallways, that will be ten points from all of you."
The greasy haired man spun on his heel and entered the classroom before anyone could protest. The students shuffled after him and sat into pairs diveded by house. He found himself paired with Ron who was still quietly grumbling to himself while Harry sat with Greengrass.
Snape took roll call and graced them with one hell of a speech and Hardwin knew that even Harry would agree that the man was being overly dramatic. They were no stranger to potions given that Lily had been a potions prodigy and was one of the few potions Masters in Britain.
Since it was one of the few practical branches of magic that didn't require a wand, she had been teaching them potions as long as they have been learning occulmency.
"Potter!" Hardwin jumped slightly at Snape's voice. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Hardwin blinked at being singled out and opened his mouth to reply but someone else beat him to it.
"A very powerful sleeping potion known as The Draught of the Living Dead, professor."
Hardwin as well as the rest of the class turned to look at Harry in surprise, equal parts by the fact that he knew the answer and the fact everyone had been sure the professor was talking to Hardwin.
"Right, there's two of them." The professor frowned, his eyes calculating before they swiveled to Hardwin. "Tell me, Gryffindor Potter, where would you look if I asked you for a bezoar?"
Hardwin considered how to answer the question before his lips stretched into a smirk.
"My trunk has a bunch of them, I'm sure Harry carries a number of them as well." He started. "Any self-respecting potions cupboard, an apothecary or where they all come from_in a stomach of a goat...sir."
"That will be twenty points from Gryffindor, Potter for your cheek." Snape sneered the moment Hardwin was finished but he just continued staring at him with his smirk still in place.
"And what is the difference Potter, between monkswood and wolfsbane?"
Hardwin's smirk disappeared and he glared at Snape knowing full well the greasy haired idiot was asking to spite him. Lily had discovered a variation of the wolfsbane potion but due to her heritage, she had been shot down by the ministry when she sought to share it with the Wizarding world and the potion was declared dark and illegal.
Snape knew that there was no way Lily's son wouldn't know about the plant and was obviously trying to run in Lily's failure. Hardwin closed his fist tightly and opened his mouth to give him a piece of his mind when he was stopped by Harry's soft but firm vice.
"They are the same plant." While it sounded normal enough, for Hardwin who had learned to tell the difference long ago could detect a hardness in Harry's voice and he knew Harry had caught Snape's meaning as well. "It also goes by the name, aconite."
"I wasn't asking you, Potter!"
"Then perhaps you need to be more specific when dealing with us Potters, Professor." Harry smoothly replied without missing a beat, his voice back to normal even though it still had an edge that only Hardwin could detect.
Looking like he was seconds away from taking points from his own house, Snape spun around and flicked his wand towards the board to reveal notes. "The instructions are on the board, start brewing!"
By the end of the lesson, Gryffindor had lost twenty more points though thankfully none from Hardwin or Neville. The boil cure potion was one of the earliest they had been taught at home and even modified the standard procedure a little to cut the time needed.
This meant him and Neville as well as Harry and Greengrass had been the first to finish and we're excused from the homework given that their potions were the exact shade as what was required to the envy of the others. Hardwin didn't get a chance to talk to Harry as he had hoped though.
Hardwin rushed off to lunch and finished it before dragging Neville and Ron with him downgo Hagrid's. The half-giant had also said to invite Harry but his brother had disappeared before lunch was done.
Hogwarts LIBRARY
"Hello, do you mind if I join you?"
The girl looked up from her work and glared at him before her eyes widened when she got a good look at him.
"You're not Him."
"I would think not, Him is not a name I would willingly throw around even if it was mine." Harry quipped.
"Oh...it's not what I meant!" The girl rushed to explain. "It's just that I thought you were...you know?"
"My brother?" Harry asked and she nodded awkwardly. "No worries, Ms. Granger. I have been told often enough that we identical and seeing that it's Hardwin you've seen most, I wouldn't blame you if you think it was me."
"Thanks I guess." She replied before mumbling on her lip as if debating on what she wanted to say before blurting out_ "But you're not exactly indistinguishable!"
"Oh?"
"You're slightly taller, your hair is obviously longer and more manageable as well as a shade darker than your brother's." Harry's eyebrows rose in amusement and she blushed but continued nonetheless. "Your eyes are usually a brighter green than his not to mention your stances are different. While Hardwin is easy going and very relaxed like he has no worry in the world, yours is similar but with a fluidness that shows you're very comfortable in it. If it weren't for the underage magic restrictions, I would think you two practice duelling back home!"
"Wow." Harry said, genuinely impressed. Either she was more observant that he had initially thought or she was becoming obsessive with the both of them. "I knew you were smart, Ms. Granger but I obviously underestimated you."
"It's nothing!" Now her entire face was bright red. "Anyone could see difference of that cared to look."
"And yet it was you who spotted them." He decided to lay it on a little thicker. "Some of the things you said, only mom has been able to spot."
"It's nothing really!" She squeaked, sinking into her seat and Harry smiled at her.
"You will find, Ms. Granger that witches tend to over look simple things really. Mom always said that since magic usually doesn't make sense, magicals tend not to have much common sense all together." He leaned forward. "You have proved that you haven't been infected by that yet which reminds me why I came to you in the first place."
The bushy-haired girl perked up as Harry withdrew pieces parchment from his robes and a quil, he set it down on the table between them in preparation to begin writing.
"Tell me, Ms. Granger." He started. "What do you think of wand movements and incantations?"
"What?"
"Let me rephrase that. Do you think that wand movements and incantations are a necessity or requirement when casting magic?"
"Well, yes." She answered slowly. "Why else would everyone put so much attention on them?"
Harry flicked his writs summoning his wand and pointed it at the numerous tomes on the table and silently, without any movement levitated them a few inches from the table before putting them back without drawing the librarian's attention.
"How did_"
"Think carefully Ms. Granger and put that amazing mind of yours to use." Harry interrupted her, pinning her with a deep stare. "Magic can obviously be used without incantations and wand movements. Why then have all the professors this week and all our first year text books been telling us how important they are?"
Granger worried her lower lip for a second and her brown eyes sharpened as she though hard. Harry resisted the urge to peer at her thoughts.
"I think, magic_"
Granger started and Harry leaned back in his seat to listen to the girl. It had been a fruitful afternoon.
8th September, 1991
KITCHENS
"There was a break in at Gringotts!" Hardwin exclaimed the moment he sat down infront of Harry. "On the very day we withdrew our money for the school supplies!"
"Well, Hagrid had emptied the vault earlier that day so no harm was done." Harry replied easily as he dug in his breakfast.
"Wait, you knew?"
"Yeah, it was in The Prophet and if you bothered to read the paper, you would have known earlier."
"Oh." Hardwin paused. "Wait, how did you know Hagrid had emptied it."
"An educated guess, if you think back on our trip that day, I'm sure you'll come to a similar conclusion."
"So you're not concerned that some dark wizard managed to break into Gringotts and got away with it?"
"It's not my place to worry about such things, that's for Sirius as Head Auror." Harry answered simply.
"And if it had been our family vault he broke into?"
"I'm sure Gringotts will be more than willing to compensate us." Harry replied and Hardwin just shook his head at Harry's attitude.
"So how was your first week?" He asked instead.
"It has been... enlightening." Harry replied. "Things are quite interesting in Slytherin house. Did you know there is some kind of hierarchy with a leader in every year and the head on top. Malfoy has apparently claimed the top place in our year."
"I take it you don't agree?" Hardwin asked with a smile and Harry smirked.
"Naturally." He said, eyes shining bright with mirth. "I'm looking forward to the point he decides to assert dominance."
"Oh, that's something I would pay good money to see." Hardwin laughed at the idea of someone asserting dominance over Harry, let alone someone like Malfoy.
"I'll be sure to share the memory inghe pensieve when we get back home." Harry told him. "What about you? I hear you've got yourself a rival."
"I wouldn't call Granger my rival." Hardwin snorted. "She is a know-it-all who is barely keeping up with me. I keep beating her in everything despite her spending every waking hour in the library."
Harry harmed for a moment before he looked at him.
"Granger didn't know about magic not more than eight months ago and even then only had to rely on books untill she came to Hogwarts." He said. "She hasn't had any prior instructions and she is performing at the rate she is. That is not someone you should underestimate, brother."
"I'm not underestimated her brother, have some faith in me." Hardwin looked affronted. "You may be the Slytherin but that doesn't mean I don't have any cunning in me."
"Of course." Harry nodded. "Now tell me your impression about the other first years."
Hardwin started giving his assessment as Harry listened, dutifully filling in the names of those Hardwin had forgotten. The two brothers planned and shared each other's thoughts together and when the time to leave arrived, they renewed their vow and promise. To face everything that came their way Together.
AN: This is a new story I'll be writing alongside my Originals crossover. It will likely end up as a crossover in the future but untill then, I'll put it under the category of Harry Potter.
I have NOT abandoned the crossover, as a matter of fact I'll be going back to it after I've gotten this one to stop rampaging around my head.
