A/N: Thanks for all the support.
The Slytherin Reformation
By Spectre4hire
16: All Together Now
A month.
Just nearly a month since Harry and Dumbledore saw to the destruction of the horcrux that Voldemort had hidden within the castle. A month since Harry had divulged the forgotten history of the Bloody Baron. Information that according to the headmaster would point them in the direction of where Voldemort was hiding. And since then-Nothing.
"Harry?"
"Erh," He replied eloquently, his reflections disrupted by her voice. "Sorry," He hadn't meant to space out. He turned to see she didn't look upset.
"Wrackspurts," Luna said with a sage nod, "You're infested with them."
"No," Harry shook his head, not allowing these wrackspurts to take the blame when it was solely on him.
It was only him and Luna. The two of them had met up after dinner to head to the library.
The others had been too busy to join them. Daphne had gone off with Neville to help him with potions while he would look over her herbology homework. Tracey had gone off to spend time with Justin before the match tomorrow while Theodore was with Hermione, and that was as far as he wanted to dwell on where or what they were doing.
She eyed him suspiciously as if believing these wrackspurts were in control of him.
"I got distracted," he confessed, before realizing that he couldn't exactly say why he was distracted. He had yet to tell any of his friends what he had learned about the Bloody Baron's past. He'd eventually tell them but thought it might be smarter to do so when they weren't in school where the Baron silently lurked.
"About the match tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Harry quickly latched onto that perfect excuse.
The Quidditch Cup would be decided in tomorrow's match between Slytherin and Hufflepuff. They had yet to win the Quidditch cup. Gryffindor had won it in Harry's first year, and it had been canceled last year, but with the way Malfoy was playing, they'd never have won it.
"Sorry about that," The exact excuse may not have been real, but the sincerity and his apology were. "What were you talking about before-" He paused, finally taking in their surroundings, "Wait," He stopped, "Where are we?" They were nowhere near the library.
"We're not going to the library," Luna said simply, before glancing at him to think he was odd for thinking they were. "Come on," she encouraged him, as she continued down the hall.
Harry had to jog to catch up. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see," she said with an enigmatic smile.
"Harry?"
He turned at the sound of his name to see Tracey and Susan were approaching them. It was Tracey who called him. "Do you know what's going on?" She asked.
"No, idea," Harry noticed the knowing look pass between Susan and Luna. And the smiling, he put that aside since he was surprised to see Tracey. "Weren't you supposed to be with Justin?"
"I was," She answered, "He was sweet. He wished I had a great game, but that we still lost."
"I suppose that would mean I wouldn't catch the snitch," Harry said dryly.
Tracey smiled, and nodded, "Like I said, sweet," before she added, "but stupid," she giggled, "If he thought you wouldn't get it."
Harry chuckled. "I hope you didn't tell him that."
"Of course not," she replied, "I'm not stupid." She rolled her eyes. "And then after that I went flying for some last-minute practice." It was Harry's turn to roll his eyes which she ignored. "That was where Susan found me, and she got me back inside and here I am now explaining my evening to you."
"Thanks for that."
She ignored his sarcasm and turned to the quiet Susan and Luna. "So, what's going on?" Her eyes lingered on the Hufflepuff. "You're not luring us here to curse us before the big game?"
"What-" Susan's outraged squawk died just as quickly as it was formed at Tracey's laughter.
"I was just kidding," Tracey held up her hands to stop the Hufflepuff from charging her.
Susan let out a huff that seemed equal parts amused and annoyed. "That wasn't the original plan, but now I'm reconsidering it." The glint in her eyes and her finger tapping her wand was enough for Tracey to suddenly pale.
"Get Harry!" Tracey playfully slipped behind him. "The seeker is more important than a chaser," Her hands were on Harry's back, to keep him in front of her. "And our back up one is rubbish."
"Really, Tracey?" Harry tried to look over his shoulder to his Slytherin friend, but she kept sidestepping in an effort to stay behind him. "I would've thought you'd care more about winning for Slytherin than your own safety."
"I would've thought that too," she replied, "but here we are." She was looking over his shoulder flashing him a quick smile, "Don't tell Daphne I used you as a human shield. She wouldn't understand."
"Come on," Susan gestured for them to follow her and Luna. "We wanted to show you something."
"You heard her, Harry," Tracey gave him a playful nudge to get him to start moving.
Harry just sighed and went with Tracey following behind him.
What they wanted to show them was a room at the end of the corridor. Susan and Luna were smiling when they reached it, before Susan opened the door for them.
"SURPRISE!"
Harry blinked. He was expecting an empty classroom, but what he saw was a grinning Hermione, Neville, Theodore, and Daphne. It took him a couple seconds for him to register what he was seeing beyond his friends. It was the movement that caught his eye, glancing in its direction he saw himself looking at a flickering shadow zooming around on a large green canvas. It was chasing a golden dot.
A snitch, Harry realized, just as the shadow caught said snitch. Then there was a silver flash and Harry saw his face staring back at him, smiling triumphantly while waving back at him, snitch in hand. And then it was gone, and the shadow zoomed once more across the canvas chasing the golden snitch. This time however he saw the silver lettering at the top of the banner. It read: Go Slytherin! With a snake trailing after the letters.
"Look at me!" Tracey declared, "I'm beautiful!"
Harry turned to see Tracey had her own green banner. Her shadow flew across, throwing the quaffle into one of the three hoops and after a few goals, it was Tracey's grinning face flashing back at him.
"Well?" Daphne was standing beside him. "What do you think?"
He sensed the creep of apprehension in her tone making him realize that he hadn't said anything yet. "They're brilliant!" He turned to her, wearing his own grin. "They're amazing!"
Daphne smiled. "Really? You like them?"
"Like them?" Harry was standing in front of his banner, his fingers trailing across the material. "I love them." He turned back to her. "You made these?" The magic was incredible, quietly wondering what charms she had used to make it all work.
"We all did," Daphne answered, "Luna drew them, Hermione, Susan, and I enchanted them."
"And we get to hold them," Theodore deadpanned, gesturing to him and Neville, who nodded.
"That's not true," Hermione put in, "They helped with some of the magic."
"It's incredible," Tracey was gushing, enveloping Hermione into a hug while still unable to take her eyes off hers. "These are going on my wall at home after the game."
Harry had come to a similar conclusion with his own banner. "You drew these, Luna?"
"I did," she answered proudly, "but it took a while."
"You did a great job," Tracey attached herself to Luna next for a thankful embrace.
"You all did," Harry added, impressed at his friends' skills and humbled by the effort and time they put into making these for him and Tracey. He glanced back over at Daphne to see her bright smile, and pleased look. With all the surprises of their presence and the banners, Harry only now noticed what Daphne was wearing. "Wait," He was staring at a Slytherin quidditch jersey that looked suspiciously similar to his own. "Is that mine?"
"It is," Daphne's eyes sparkled, "Was wondering when you were going to notice." She posed for him, "Nott said you had an extra one and I convinced him to give it to me." She walked closer to him. "What do you think?"
"I think," Harry thought she looked amazing in it. There was something about her wearing his jersey that he couldn't quite put his finger on, but he really, really liked it. "That I won't turn you in for stealing."
"You don't mind?" She teased, clearly aware how much he enjoyed seeing her in it.
He shook his head, "Not at all."
"You helped make these too, Susan?" Tracey's question pulled Harry's eyes reluctantly away from his girlfriend and towards their hufflepuff friend.
"I did," She barely got her answer out before Tracey had latched herself onto her. "Though after you accused me of trying to jinx you and then using Harry as a shield, now I'm not-"
"No, no," Tracey threw her hands up to stop her from continuing. "That was a joke."
"You used my boyfriend as a human shield?" Daphne was staring at her best friend now.
"Well," Tracey began, fumbling to try to find a reasonable answer in the face of her friend's icy stare. "Sorry." She flashed a sheepish smile.
Daphne snorted, her glare softening in an instant. "Sometimes I think Pomfrey needs to look you over, Trace," she said with a dramatic sigh.
"Well, I know one thing," Harry grabbed Daphne's hand, "Tracey and I can't have asked for better friends and supporters." He saw Tracey nodding enthusiastically to his words, "And we can't wait to see them in the stands tomorrow-"
"When we CRUSH Huffelpuff!" Tracey finished, before glancing over at Susan, "No offense."
"Don't feel bad for Bones," Daphne said, "Susan may be cheering for Hufflepuff, but she's betting on Slytherin."
Susan didn't deny it, she just smiled.
"You sure you don't want to join them?"
Daphne's voice barely carried over to Harry despite how close they were sitting together. The couple were cuddled up on a leather sofa in the Slytherin common room.
The them were across from Harry and Daphne where Tracey and the other members of the Quidditch team were basking in the celebration with Tracey clutching the silver quidditch cup. Harry didn't think he'd seen another person hold it after their captain had handed it to Tracey, who was clinging to it as if her life depended on it.
"No," Harry's arm was wrapped around Daphne, "I'm happy where I'm at."
She smiled. "Good answer."
The party for Slytherin winning the quidditch cup had already started by the time Harry and the team had actually arrived. His housemates didn't bother waiting despite them being the reason they were all celebrating. Bottles of butterbeer were passed around and an array of foods that made Harry think that some of their housemates had access to the kitchens and were well stocked with contraband with the butterbeers and other treats.
The game had been an exciting one. It was already a high scoring affair by the time Harry made his move on the snitch. Tracey had scored nearly a dozen goals, but they still needed the snitch to secure their victory. After a brief, but exciting chase across the pitch and partly through the stands over the shrieks of Hufflepuff supporters. Harry had been able to grab the snitch, winning the game, and securing the Quidditch cup for Slytherin for the first time since Harry and his friends had arrived at Hogwarts.
He wouldn't forget Tracey practically tackling him when the two landed or his teammates gathering around him and Tracey to hoist them on their shoulders. If there had been any lingering doubt of their position in Slytherin, winning the Quidditch cup had erased them. Marcus Flint, their gruff captain, who wasn't known for his kindness had greeted Harry and Tracey like beloved siblings when he reached them. And he handed Tracey the cup after his share with it, passing over their older teammates.
"Reliving your glorious catch?" Daphne poked his side.
"Of course not," He smiled down at her, "Just basking in my girlfriend's presence."
"You're full of smart answers today."
"Here you all are," Theodore arrived with fresh butterbeers.
"Thanks, Nott," Daphne wasn't one to oppose his presence when he came bearing gifts. She took the offered bottle. "How's camera duty going?"
Tracey's camera was dangling around Theo's neck. He had been the unlucky one tasked to take photos first of the game and now of the party. He groaned, "Awful," he plopped down in a chair across from them. "How did I get roped into doing it?"
"It's simple, Nott," Daphne took a swig of her butterbeer, "Harry was playing, and I refused."
Theodore chuckled between sips. "That makes sense."
"Does she know you're on break?"
"Shh," Theodore tried to quiet Daphne down, but when she didn't look particularly interested in listening. He offered her some licorice wands, just one of the assortments of sweets that were being handed out at the party.
"This should buy my silence for a few minutes." She grabbed them.
"Thanks," He muttered, rolling his eyes. "I think Tracey's kissed that cup more often than she's kissed Justin."
Harry chuckled. He didn't have to look over to know that his friend was probably right. "You think we should warn him that he has competition for his girlfriend's affection?"
"Competition?" Theodore snorted, "Poor guy's got no chance against that cup."
Their absent friend was currently pouring another bottle of butterbeer into the large silver cup before drinking out of it much to the delight of the growing and adoring crowd.
"Hey, you," Theodore called a passing first year.
"Me?" She was a lanky kid with messy auburn hair and freckled cheeks.
"Yeah," Theodore gestured for her to come closer. "You see that girl over there?" He pointed in the direction of Tracey.
The first year perked immediately when she spotted her. "Tracey Davis?"
Harry chuckled into his hand at the girl's excitement. He could see Daphne's lips twitching into a smile at the reaction that their absent friend had on her.
"That's her," Theo slipped the camera strap from around his neck. "This is her camera." The girl's eyes widened, looking at it like it belonged to Salazar himself. "And my friend, Tracey needs good pictures taken of the party," he paused, looking the girl up and down for effect, as if appraising her, "but I'm not sure-"
"I can do it," she said eagerly, "I'll get the best pictures," she even tried to grab the camera from him, "I know how to work them. My dad's a muggle."
It was a testament to how much Slytherin had improved that she would openly say that. Harry doubted anyone even heard her with the way the party was going, but he couldn't help but be pleased that she didn't flinch after admitting it or look afraid or regretful. She was confident, and Harry liked to think he and his friends had played a part in helping Slytherin move past certain prejudices that their house had been stuck in.
"Perfect," Theodore dropped his hesitant act and handed her the camera.
She eagerly snatched it. "I won't let her down."
"No," Theodore agreed, "I don't think you will." He looked extremely pleased with himself. "What was your name? I want to make sure Tracye knows it."
"Drusilla," she answered, looking both anxious and in awe at having her name being given to Tracey, "Drusilla Taylor."
Theodore nodded, "Excellent, I won't keep you."
Drusilla got the hint. She made a near beeline towards Tracey, poised to take pictures before turning back to them. "Thanks!" And then she was swallowed up by the crowd.
Theo leaned back in his seat, his hands behind his head with a self-satisfied smirk.
"What are you gonna do with your newfound freedom?" Harry asked.
It was Daphne who spoke up. "Isn't it obvious?" She asked dryly, "He's off to see a certain Gryffindor."
"Oh?" Harry was not the least bit surprised, "Say hi to Neville for me."
Theo's reply was drowned out by a sudden and shrill whistle, that didn't just cut through their conversation, but all the noise in the common room. Everyone quieted, and turned to see Marcus Flint was standing beside Tracey, the seventh year towered over her. His trollish face and baleful glare made sure the crowd stayed quiet after his whistle.
"This won't take long. Just want to say I'm glad we won the cup my last year here."
"Last year?" Daphne whispered, "Where does he get that confidence?"
Harry had to smother a chuckle at his girlfriend's sharp observation. The captain of their team had already been held back once.
Flint was still speaking during Harry and Daphne's side discussion. "I've just come back from seeing our Head of House and told him that if we wanted to keep winning this cup," he grabbed the silver quidditch cup from Tracey, who wisely let go of it. "Then Professor Snape needs to name Tracey Davis as my replacement for quidditch captain next year." He ended his endorsement by removing his badge and handing it to Tracey.
The common room exploded with cheers and applause.
"Who would've thought," Daphne clapped along with them in support of her friend, despite her disinterest in the sport, "That Flint was capable of coming up with a good idea."
"Harry, have you had any luck with Professor Lupin?" Susan made sure to ask her question quietly so Professor McGonagall wouldn't hear her. Their transfiguration professor did not like idle gossip, but she was currently on the other side of the room, observing some of the other group's spell work.
"No," Harry kept his concentration on the goblet in front of him. He uttered the spell that was supposed to turn the goblet into a gopher. The cup twitched to life, he started smiling when he saw a tail sprouting from what had once been the goblet's handle. That was when the goblet tipped over, but arms and legs had appeared to catch it, making it appear to stand and then it started chasing its own tail.
Harry sighed. The base of the gopher was still the goblet, and his animal was missing his head. He canceled the spell with another flick of his wand.
"Good, first try," Susan tried to encourage him.
"Thanks," He was fortunate in terms of partners, Professor McGonagall had broken up their class by pairing Slytherins with Hufflepuffs. So, while he had gotten Susan, Daphne hadn't been so lucky drawing Hannah Abbot, a friend of Susan's, but not Daphne's. Theo had been partnered with Ernie McMillian, a nice enough guy, but one who didn't seem pleased working with someone whose father had been a death eater, a stigma that his friend continued to struggle against. The only one who was more satisfied with this arrangement was Tracey, who had been tasked to join Justin, her boyfriend.
Harry looked over Susan's shoulder to see Daphne wasn't trying to hide her distaste for her partner. The scowl and the eyeroll were enough to make him chuckle which he tried to turn into a cough. It had gotten Daphne to look at him, where she instantly smiled, that look that always made Harry feel like someone let loose a snitch in his chest. He smiled back, but Susan clearing her throat made him turn sharply back towards his partner.
"You can ogle your girlfriend at the library, or in the great hall, or in your common room," Susan began listing all the places off, but her own smile belayed her pointed tone.
Harry offered her a shrug and returned the smile. "Sorry, it's your turn"
"I already went," She deadpanned, tipping her head so Harry could see her handiwork.
The goblet was twitching on its side, missing its back legs, while its tail wrapped around its metallic body protectively. She canceled the spell and sagged in relief when her goblet was just a goblet again, but she hadn't expected the bounce it took. It clanged loudly off their table. Susan winced, but Harry's quidditch instincts deftly caught it before it could hit the floor.
"Thanks."
Harry was thankful their cup fiasco went unnoticed since their other classmates were sharing the same struggle but doing so much louder than him and Susan. "Why were you asking about Professor Lupin?"
Susan looked over her shoulder to see McGonagall had her back turned to them, lecturing Crabbe who had spectacularly failed. Meg Jones, his partner, suffered silently with a faraway look. "He was our best professor," She answered, "I would've hoped the petition would've helped."
"They did," Harry replied, knowing it had compelled a few of the school's governors, but Cyrus had said, it hadn't been enough.
"Have you ever thought about speaking out?"
"What do you mean?" Harry didn't even try to cast the spell, more interested in what Susan had to say.
"The Daily Prophet," She took his inactivity as a chance to try the spell again, but the results hadn't been any better. She groaned, quickly canceling the spell before the goblet or gopher could suffer any further.
"You mean like an interview?"
"Yeah, my aunt's used them before to get around Fudge and others."
"Really?" Harry perked, unable to hide his curiosity since the Minister or to be more specific his obstinate undersecretary appeared to be his main obstacle.
"Yes, you get public support on your side," She said, "My Aunt called it kite-flying, you let a policy or a candidate or law out into the public to see their reaction. If they react well then that gives them the go ahead to officially go forward especially with a Minister like Fudge who cares more about popularity than policy," she blushed, "Sorry that's my aunt talking."
Harry chuckled, remembering the stern Amelia Bones, "No, it's fine. She's right." He then lowered his head and whispered, "Do you think it could work against the Minister and his undersecretary?"
"Umbridge," Susan made a face while saying the name, "She's an awful woman. The sort I wish I could turn into a goblet and put her in some drawer to forget about," her wand flourished, and the goblet reacted, but since she didn't say any spell, the magic was accidental and loud. Blasting the goblet across the room, only stopping when it smashed into a wall.
"Mister Potter, Miss Bones?" Professor McGonagall was at their table so fast, Harry thought she apparated across the classroom.
"Yes, professor?" They chorused, neither remarked on their destroyed goblet that had cratered into the wall.
"The spell is to turn the goblet into a gopher," She reminded them, "It's not a banishing charm." With an easy flick of her wand, their goblet returned to them, undamaged. "Mister Potter?"
Harry tried not to think of Professor McGonagall hovering over him like a stern storm cloud. He concentrated on the spell and remembering the wrist flick and the final wand flourish, he cast it. In a puff of magic and glimmering light, the goblet on their table was a gopher, complete with furry head and body. He made sure not to look stunned at his accomplishment when he turned from his transfigured gopher to his professor, "How was that Professor?"
She let out a gentle scoff, but he was certain it was to contain the briefest smile that passed over her stoic face, "five points to Slytherin," She turned the gopher who had been using one of its claws to scratch its ear back into a goblet. Professor McGonagall was about to ask Susan to try it, but they were saved by Goyle's incompetence.
He somehow had gotten the goblet part way transfigured. It had a head and even claws, but its body was still cup shaped, and clearly it wasn't happy since it leapt off the table to attack him. Goyle panicked while his partner watched on with growing amusement. Harry was certain he heard Professor McGonagall mutter something like-I should've held him back last year, before she walked over to sort the mess out.
"How did you do that?"
"How would the Prophet help?"
They asked their questions at the same time, before laughing.
"Sorry," Harry apologized first, "I guess class is more important."
"No, it's fine," she replied, "I mean Professor Lupin is school related. He was our best defense professor."
Harry nodded, "Yeah, he was." While Harry coached her on the wrist and wand movement needed to complete the spell, Susan continued to outline her suggestion.
"You let the Prophet interview you," she read something on his face since she added, "They'd be here your next Hogsmeade weekend if they knew you were interested," she practiced the wand movement, without reciting the spell, "Actually, they'd probably come to the front gates."
"Doesn't Fudge have some pull at the Prophet?" Harry remembered Cyrus had mentioned as much.
"Yeah," Susan said the word like it was a meager fly to swat and not one of Hagrid's charging hippogriffs, "But you're not going against him," she pointed out, "You're just doing a simple and harmless interview," her eyes glittered mischievously, "And even if they were hesitant, which they wouldn't be, you drop a hint that you'd take it elsewhere and they'd pick you in a heartbeat. Your instant galleons." She said it all so confidently while making it sound so simple and easy. "You just need to come up with requirements for the interview."
"Requirements?" Harry wondered if he should be writing this all down. "What does that mean?" Cyrus and Roxanne had done a great job bringing him into the wizarding world since he came to live with them last year, but they hadn't covered this. Then again it wasn't like I was begging to learn how to give proper interviews so I could cash in on my fame.
"Yes, to negotiate," Susan was concentrating on the goblet but still hadn't tried the spell. "My Aunt says that it's really important to be able to hold them to something in contract form so they can't go back on their word." She was tapping her wand against the table, "like you'll answer these questions from them, but only if they ask these and then guarantee they'll publish it."
"Like making sure they ask about Professor Lupin and our efforts to get him back in the school," Harry was catching on.
Susan smiled. "Exactly!" Her smile dipped a little, "Him being a werewolf will hurt, but your endorsement and the petition could certainly help convince some," she said, "I'm sure of it."
That made sense, and Harry was already thinking that he should ask Cyrus or Sirius to help with that. Though he dreaded what questions the Prophet would want to ask him. He was not going to answer any questions regarding his favorite shampoo, remembering Lockhart's awful quizzes from last year.
"Thanks, Susan," Harry scribbled what she had said down inside his transfiguration textbook, knowing he'd have to copy it to a separate piece of parchment later.
"No problem," She replied, "I hope it works because it would be great if we could get him back."
Harry couldn't agree more. He was about to say as much before seeing that Susan was practicing the spell, so he quietly watched as she turned her goblet into a gopher. "Brilliant, Susan!"
Susan looked down at the inquisitive gopher who raised its head to look between them. "It's kinda cute for a cup."
Their laughter stopped when they were joined by Professor McGonagall, who looked at the gopher before giving a nod of approval. "Whose excellent spell work was this?"
"Susan," Harry said and pointed.
"Five points to Hufflepuff," Professor McGonagall rewarded his friend, before dismissing the class, who let out a groan when she reminded them of their homework that was still expected at the end of the week. "Not you, Mister Potter," she stopped him when he was rising out of his seat.
Susan looked like she might choose to stay until Professor McGonagall turned to her with a raised eyebrow. She quickly changed her mind. "Bye, Harry," she waved awkwardly, "See ya at the library later." She turned to leave the classroom and Harry saw that was where Daphne, Theo, and Tracey were waiting for him too. They tried to keep the door open, but Professor McGonagall noticed them and sent them a look that had his friends scattering out of sight.
Satisfied, she turned back to Harry. "I have a message to give you, Mister Potter," she said, "The Headmaster would like you to come to his office when you're done with classes for the day."
Harry was probably the first student who grinned at being told to report to the headmaster, but he didn't care, because this could only mean one thing.
Dumbledore had found the final horcrux.
A/N:
I tweaked some things for this chapter such as having Gryffindor winning the cup in the first year. I mean I had to let Wood and the rest of the Gryffindors win it at least once. I'm not sure I said who won it in "A Chance Encounter," I glanced over it and couldn't see, but if I wrote something different, I'll eventually find it and correct it with this new change.
The quidditch captain isn't rewarded on seniority, but merit/talent. Which was why Harry got it over Katie when they were in sixth and seventh year respectively.
In America the term is called 'trial balloon' where you leak information to the media to observe the reaction of the audience. According to the internet its called kite-flying in the UK so hopefully I didn't botch that up. And unlike in the books, Harry and Fudge are on good terms, and he's not going against Fudge, he's just doing an interview which I believe the Prophet would be interested in doing. Again, this is my interpretation of the events in this AU world. So I hope you don't mind.
As this chapter's ending hinted at we're very close to the end. That is if Harry is right in his guess that Dumbledore has found a horcrux. Maybe he found Voldemort or maybe both, or maybe he just wants Harry to try his new sugar free lemon drops he ordered. We'll have to find out next time.
Until next time,
-Spectre4hire