HARRY POTTER AND THE PRINCE OF HOGWARTS

Year One

AN: Sorry that I've taken so long, but I got COVID and was really sick before another round of exams. Hope you like this chapter!

AN2: Also, this is the second part of one day, which is a little slow going, but things are going to speed up in the next chapter.

Disclaimer: This story was written for fun and not profit, and I make no claim to the rights and ownership of Harry Potter.

Chapter 8- A very productive morning (2)

There were so many amazing, mind-blowing things to say about Hogwarts, though Harry thought that one of the top five of his list was the entrance of the fluttering herd of owls, each holding a letter or a package.

Though, as if to purposely ruin the magical moment, a brown owl entered. At first glance, it looked normal, though the bright red Howler clutched in its claws made it stand apart. In fact, there was no owl on either side of it, as if they were scared that it would rip open right then and there. But no, first, it had to be handed to the victim.

Harry, like all others, looked up, though not really expecting anything. After all, Sirius was… gone. Immediately, his good mood dampened. He pushed the thought out of his head and locked it away. The advantages of being an Occlumens.

Another advantage was that he kind of had a mental something-is-going-to-go-wrong detector built into his brain. And right now, it was ringing furiously. As Harry looked up he could immediately tell why. The brown owl, the carrier of bad news on this fine morning, was heading straight towards him.

Harry, sitting with his back to the wall and therefore having an overlook on the whole Great Hall, glanced at Jim, sitting just a mere three tables away and still not looking at him. Either he felt guilty about something, or he was just too preoccupied staring at his breakfast to notice the owl. It wasn't hard to figure which one was more likely in this case. For confirmation, he looked at Lily, who was staring wide-eyed at the owl.

Inwardly, Harry shook his head. Seriously?

The owl was obviously the Potter owl, and Jim was part of the reason it was coming straight at him. Harry braced himself.

A couple seconds later, the owl dropped the letter by his plate and flew away again, as fast as possible- not to get away from him, but to get away from the letter… which was now glowing red and radiating rage! Harry didn't even need to use any sort of Legilimency to detect that.

With nothing to lose, Harry ripped it open.

The screaming started immediately… in the furious and very drunk voice of none other than James Potter!

"HARRY- what's your middle name? Nevermind- POTTER! A SLYTHERIN- THE FIRST ONE THIS HOUSE HAS SEEN IN AGES- AND BY AGES I MEAN MORE THAN A CENTURY!"

Most kids would probably be on the verge of tears. Harry, on the other hand, looked like he was trying very hard to stop himself from laughing. He did allow himself to comment, " I'm surprised he knows how many years a century is."

Now about half of Slytherin- the ones that had heard him or had it whispered to them by their friends- were either looking shocked or also trying to keep it together.

James wasn't done yet. And neither was Harry.

AN3: The text in brackets is what Harry whispers under his breath to Theo.

"AND THAT'S NOT ALL! YOU DISAPPEAR FOR SEVEN YEARS; YOU DON'T EVEN TELL US YOU'RE ALIVE! ('Whoops.') AND THEN YOU'RE FOUND, AND WHILE WERE DISCUSSING WHETHER TO KEEP YOU, YOU GET A ROPE AND TRY TO CLIMB DOWN A FREAKING TOWER! ('No regrets.') LILY AND I HAD A LITERAL HEART ATTACK! AND THEN, YOU SOMEHOW MAKE DUMBLEDORE BELIEVE YOU ARE A SQUIB- DARK MAGIC I HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF. ('Yes, Potter, blame it all on dark magic. Very usual for a seven year old kid to be able to do that.') YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO LOSE YOUR CHILD, NOT ONE, BUT TWO TIMES? WE THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD, FOR MERLIN'S SAKE! ('That was the point.') WE CRIED A RIVER FOR YOU, JUST TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH OF A, …. A, … ('A…? Wow, great range of vocabulary you have.') ANYWAY- PULL ANOTHER STUNT LIKE THAT AND YOU'RE DEAD! ('Excuse me?') OKAY, MAYBE THATS A LITTLE HARSH BUT IT'S CALLED PARENTING. ('No, it's called getting a lawsuit.') WAIT; ACTUALLY, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE OF A SNAPPING YOUR WAND KIND OF SITUATION! ('Never mind, two lawsuits.') JUST SAYING!

YOURS,

JAMES POTTER

The hall was so silent you could hear a pin drop- or in this case, the collective drop of jaws as James continued to threaten his birth child. Every eye was fixed on Harry.

And he, well… he just threw his head back and laughed.

If people had been shocked by the Howler, then they could not believe Harry's reaction to it. Maybe tears, maybe running out, but definitely not this.

Lily had her head buried in her hands and left the table very quickly. Adrian was now looking straight at Harry- like everyone else- all thoughts about ignoring or leaving him alone forgotten. Dumbledore looked stunned and solemn. Even Snape reacted- in a tiny crack of his normally composed and unreadable mask, Harry could tell that he'd even surprised his Head of House. Theo was smirking and the rest of Slytherin looked amused, jealous, or just as stunned as the rest.

His laughter continued to ring through the hall.

The older students shared a glance and looked at him strangely. They knew a thing he didn't.

Just like that, he'd earned his place in Slytherin.

When Harry finally calmed down, he looked around, a light smirk on his lips. Still no one had resumed their conversation, so Harry turned back to Theo and said, " I don't know about you, but I wasn't done with breakfast."

He picked up his fork and stuffed himself with some hash browns and red beans. Theo snickered and followed his lead.

Slowly, as if coming out of a stupor, the entire Great Hall started buzzing again, people picking up from where they left off. Though the stunt he'd just pulled was never completely out of their minds.

After the delicious breakfast and the incident, Harry Potter and his fellow first-year Slytherins were handed their time-table by Snape.

"Are you kidding me?" Theo groaned. "Potions with the Gryffindors first? It's like they want us to go crazy and rip each other's hair out."

"I'd bet 100 Galleons that Dumbledore did that on purpose", Harry said, grinning challengingly.

"Guess I'm going to be a little richer soon."

"Do you mean we have a deal?" Harry said, raising his eyebrow, smirking. He stretched out his hand. Theo took it confidently and shook it.

"Indeed."

Then they dropped the populous accent and shared a grin (laughing would be a huge breach of decorum at breakfast), before finishing eating and heading to the dungeon.

Potions was as terrible as predicted, though it was obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes that something would go wrong by the way it even started.

They were all assembled in front of the potion classroom, waiting for Snape to open the door for them. Like expected, the two different houses stood as far from each other as possible and sometimes threw dirty glances at each other. Normally, first-years didn't have all too much spite against the other house, since no pranking and/or bullying could have happened in those few hours, but the dinner the night before had really split them. For the Slytherins were on Team Harry and the Gryffindors on Team Adrian. Well, not all. Hermione and Neville, who had had a chance to talk with Harry during the train ride, were conflicted by this whole situation. So they just kept out of it.

Adrian also seemed torn. On one side, Harry had embarrassed him more in the twelve hours they've known eachother than anyone in his whole life. He was literally begging for payback. On the side though, Dumbledore already wasn't too happy with him. There was no need to add fuel to the fire.

Ron was no help either when Adrian told him about his dilemma.

"What do you mean, you're done with all that?! You literally physically assaulted your brother yesterday because of what he said! And you want to tell me that overnight, all that just disappeared? And didn't come back when he burst out laughing at your father's Howler?" Ron whispered furiously.

Adrian winced. "Listen mate, I was with Dumbledore yesterday, and he said that I was expected to do great things and that I had a reputation to uphold. I mean, what would people think if it got out that the Boy-Who-Lived attacked Harry—my long-lost brother—on our first encounter?"

"I dunno- maybe that you had every right to do so because he's an absolute git?"

Adrian laughed half-heartedly. "The thing is-"

Just then, Draco came up to them and said, "What are you whispering about? Does another great Dark Lord need to be killed? Or are you just making a plan on how to rinse the rest of the gravy from your hair?"

"None of your business", Adrian fumed.

His decision made itself.

Harry watched, horrified, as Draco walked up to Adrian, whispering something- and thus making Adrian turn an ugly shade of red.

"Oh nooo", he groaned, "What is Malfoy doing?"

"Do we really want to know?" Theo asked.

"No, but it would probably help understand why he is literally marching towards us, fuming."

"Wha-" Theo said in confusion. He was standing with his back to Adrian, which was why he had not seen Adrian march up and whisper dangerously, "You messed with the wrong people. It's on." He stalked away.

"I'm sorry- what is he going to do? He is a first-year. We haven't even had a single class of charms or defense", Theo snorted.

Harry answered, "He's probably had some special Boy-Who-Lived training."

Theo grinned, "I can see it- whenever he's hit by a spell, he turns into a baby to deflect it."

"No, that only works with deathly spells. When he's hit with something other than the Killing Curse it's probably easier to just become a 7-year-old or something."

"Should we test it?"

"What? Magic in the corridors? Filch would kill us", Harry grinned mischieviously. It went unsaid that they couldn't take Filch seriously and had literally no bone in their bodies that feared him.

"But… how can we pass up such a chance?" Theo countered. Indeed, Adrian was just there, talking agitadely to Ron about who-knows-what, his back turned to them.

Harry didn't need much persuasion. He knew revenge was useless and time-consuming, but he was just eleven. Plus, Sirius would kill him if he went to Hogwarts without pranking or hexing anybody- or got caught doing so.

It wasn't hard- the third spell he'd learned wandlessly and wordlessly was the Tripping jinx, right after Accio and Expelliarmus.

Before firing at his twin, he quickly changed the subject, louf enough for everyone to hear what they were talking about so that thy would be more inconspicuous, but not too loud so that it seemed that they were up to no good.

"I swear, I don't know how they do it, but the food at Hogwarts it's just amazing."

Theo looked at him for a split second, his brain working overdrive to understand what was happening before he caught on.

"I know, right? I've never tasted an apple pie that tasted so good."

"I loved the Crème brûlée. I just hope I can get some to sneak out during the Quidditch matches because I wouldn't trust myself to go four hours without some,"

While continuing the meaningless chatter about food and Quidditch with Theo, Harry circled his wrist and shot the jinx at his brother.

Instantly, Adrian face-planted into the floor.

Theo, who had gone on about Hogwarts' selection of fries, turned around like the rest to watch what was happening. Both Snakes had their most innocent faces on and fit right in with the startled- and now laughing- crowd.

To further Adrian's embarrassment, Snape slammed the door open while he was still sprawled on the ground and it hit his head.

Snape snapped, "Potter, what is this supposed to be? Get up! And all of you- in, right now."

Harry chose a seat in the front row- he loved potions, after all- with Theo on his right. There were two rows with five tables for two in each, and a stove for every pair. They sat on the third table, Zabini, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle on one side, Neville, Hermione, Ron, and Adrian on the other.

Snape went through his speech about how Potion was a delicate art and that no unmotivated and untalented, clumsy moron would be able to pass his class. Also, only the best would be able to get into his NEWT class, so if they were planning on doing so, they should work hard. Harry had to stop himself from smiling- Sal would give a very similar speech. maybe it just ran in a Potions Master's blood.

Then came the registry. Names were called and 'yes, sir' was answered… until 'Potter'.

"Oh, it's Adrian Potter- our…new...celebrity.

Tell me, Potter- What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Harry looked over to Hermione, who seemed to be using every inch of her will not to raise her hand. This time, he did smile. Meanwhile, Adrian sat cluelessly at his desk.

He was rubbing his head; it probably still hurt from the door hitting it. Maybe that's why he decided on making the Potions Professor hate him even more by saying, "I have no clue, Snivellus, but it's not shampoo, is it? Because you could use some."

The class went deathly silent and everyone exchanged horrified glances.

Snape's lips curled."15 points from Gryffindor. Let's try again: where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"I don't think you should be a teacher if you have to ask first-years for answers. Typically, I would suggest reading a potions book, but perhaps your hair prevents you from being able to see much…"

All Harry wanted to do right then and there was face-palm himself and clamp Adrian's mouth shut. Malfoy, Goyle and Crabbe were snickering, but so were many others of the class.

Snape sneered. "Another 15 points from Gryffindor. What's the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

Adrian opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Harry, although not in Gryffindor, was pained by this show and had shot a Silencing spell at him.

Unfortunately, Hermione had not realized that before she physically jumped out of her chair-over Neville- to clamp her hand over his mouth and screaming, "SHUT UP, POTTER!" Both Hermione and Adrian fell backwards onto the floor, her hand still clasped over his mouth. "I swear, if you say another word-"

She was panting heavily and blushed as she realized that everyone was focused on them. She stood up promptly. "Sorry, sir."

Quietly, Snape mouthed the words, equally surprised as everyone else. "Five points to Gryffindor."

Then he turned on his heel and went back to calling their names. "Ah… the other Potter." His black eyes found Harry's green ones. He didn't shrink back- he'd been tutored by Snape whilst he lived with Draco and remembered that the Potions Master had asked them these exact questions as well- they were the ones he'd been asked when he'd taken his Potion Mastery and his way of finding any potential future Potioneers in his classes. "Can you answer any of these questions?"

Harry answered, "Yes, I think I can- asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion known as the Draught of Living Death, whose ingredients also include sloth brain and Sopophorous bean juice, which should be crushed with the dagger and not cut because it releases the juice more efficiently that way.

"A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and will save you from most poisons, but not basilisk.

"As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, and also called aconite."

Snape nodded curtly, "That is… correct."

After a moment of recollecting himself, he made the instructions of a simple boil-curing potion appear on the blackboard and barked, "Well? What are you waiting for? And Potter- for Merlin's sake: GET UP!"

Adrian brushed the dust from his robes and quickly sat back down on his chair, painfully aware that his entire face was red… and that he'd insulted a teacher… and that his brother had just made him look like a complete fool.

But he didn't want to lose anymore points. Wasting no time, everyone- including him- got to work.

Unfortunately, that was not the only thing to go wrong that class.

About halfway through, Ron added the porcupine quills instead of the dried nettles, which cause the entire cauldron to explode.

Acting on instinct alone, Harry conjured a transparent shield often used in potion labs that Sal had taught him that covered him, Theo, Zabini, Malfoy and Crabbe and Goyle, saving them from the ugly red boils that were now covering almost everyone.

Indeed, half the class was screaming or moaning or rolling on the floor.

"MY FACE!"

"OWW!"

"IDIOTS!"

That last one was from Snape, who quickly waved his wand to dispose of the potion everywhere and another time to reduce the flaming. Ron and Adrian had it worst and also got an additional potion to drink.

Snape made sure to look at Harry to tell him that he knew that there was some funny business going on, like him not getting hit by even a splatter even though he was just a table away.

After everyone had calmed down and the boils were gone, they went back to work, though several people had to hurry because they had to start again since some of Ron and Adrian's potion had gotten in theirs. Thus, about half the class would have an ensured 'D' for their first potion.

When the lesson was over, everyone handed in their potions in vials. Ron and Adrian- like several others had nothing to give, though Hermione had somehow managed to save her and Nevilles potion, but it was several shades to light and green fumes were rising out of it. Malfoy and Zabini did okay, considering everything, but not better than Harry and Theo.

Their potion was perfect, and Harry made sure to look at Snape when he handed it in. Sure enough, his lips tightened, and Harry fought down a smile- Snape was actually the teeniest bit impressed! He sauntered back to his table.

Theo was also amazed. Harry had changed about half the instructions, and their Potion had turned out amazingly.

"How do you know how to brew so well? That was… great! Also, promise me we'll never change seats. My 'O' is guaranteed by just sitting next to you."

Harry laughed and shrugged. "I just followed the instructions."

"Sureeee. You don't think I saw you add double the amount of dried nettles, squeeze the snake fangs instead of chop them and stir it seven times counter-clockwise instead of four times?"

Harry looked at him strangely, but then simply shrugged "I may have read a book here and there and gotten some tutoring."

Not a complete lie, but not the entire truth either.

But before Theo could ask more questions, Snape called out, "Potter! The Slytherin one! Please stay after class."

When everyone was packed away (Theo whispered, "Teach me" before leaving), Harry approached Snape's desk.

He waited patiently until Snape was done writing and looked up.

"Potter."

That was it. So many possible responses ran through his head but he just kept quiet. Everyone had seen what happened when you showed even a grain of cheek with Professor Snape.

"How?"

Snape motioned to the vial of his and Theo's potion.

Harry shrugged, "I had a good tutor." Snape would detect a lie anyway, and it was a good time as any to tell him.

Snape folded his hands. "A Potion tutor in the muggle world. Sure, yes, that makes perfect sense."

In response, the younger Slytherin sighed and said, "Green elephants make fantastic pea soup."

Snape looked confused at first, until he realized that the memory lock Lucius had put on him opened and let him remember all memories of Draco's fictitious cousin that was Harry, which Snape had previously tutored.

Letting him know all about his adventure with Sal… well… that could wait. This would probably be enough of a shock.

"Well, that explains it", was all he said.

"I thought so."

Not only his great potion, but everything. How he knew all that about Snape and Lily, why he didn't care about the Howler, why he always managed to read Severus when he showed no sign of anything to anyone else. And all the other strange things that had happened since he got here.

Harry turned to leave. Before he could reach the door though, Snape opened his mouth and pushed the two most difficult words for him to say. "I'm sorry."

For intruding your personal space last night in an attempt to legitimize you.

For not being any help.

For letting my hatred of your father judge you in an untruthful way.

For forgetting my roles as a Head of House.

For Sirius.

The young snake nodded in acknowledgement. There was nothing else to be said, except…

"Remember to give your announcements tonight, sir. For some reason, you didn't show up yesterday."

Then he quickly closed the door and sprinted to Herbology before Snape could hex him to oblivion.

Herbology wasn't eventful, and neither was Charms. After lunch, they had double Defense Against the Dark Arts, again with Gryffindor.

"Dumbledore's absolutely insane. Not one but two classes with Gryffindor on Monday? Seriously?" Theo groaned. Harry also had a bad feeling in his gut- they barely survived Potions- how would DADA go?

But, surprisingly, nothing happened. It was a very big surprise considering everything, but the weirdest thing to happen was the sudden piercing head-ache Harry got in Professor Quirrel's class.

Then came dinner.

Adrian and Ron were already sitting at their table, helping themselves to some potatoes and roast, the rest of the first-years just coming in after doing their homework in the library or chilling in the Common Room.

Harry and Theo were just about to enter the Great Hall when he stopped abruptly.

Something was off.

Indeed, as he analyzed his surroundings, Harry's inner alarm made him walk around a blob about 5 feet in diameter. Unfortunately, Theo had not realized that Harry had stopped and walked straight into it. The effect was immediate. He slipped backward, hitting his head on the floor, and skidded all through the Great Hall to the Slytherin table.

Concerned for his friend, Harry ran over to him and saw faint traces of blood on his head.

"So that's what they were doing during Defense", Theo managed to get out.

He didn't need to ask who 'they' were. Harry's head snapped over to Adrian and Ron, who were laughing and pointing with the rest of the Gryffindors. At the same time, he saw them handing the red-headed twins that were sitting beside them a galleon under the table.

He shook his head in disbelief and, though he didn't know it and no one realized, his eyes glowed the green of the Killing Curse.

Meanwhile, Snape, Dumbledore and the Slytherin prefects, as well as some first-year Slytherins had gotten up to help Theo get on his feet and go to the Hospital Wing.

Through the chaos, no one heard Harry whisper, "Oh, it's on, little Brother, NOW it's on."

AN4: Who doesn't love a little sibling rivalry? I'm not planning on having them fight through the entire story, but right now I enjoy writing their little fights. If anyone has any ideas for pranks, leave a review!

AN5: Just a little reminder, this is not a Harry/Snape story, but one were they actually get along OK and Snape doesn't try to make his life absolutely miserable.

AN6: (IN RESPONSE TO RECENT REVIEWS): Yes, the month of detention is stupid, but Dumbledore feels like their not getting along is his fault and therefore used this to try and make them talk to one another, maybe even build a sort of brotherly relationship.

AN7: I don't know exactly when I'll upload but Chapter 19 will come out in one or two weeks- I promise.

Stay safe,

M.S.